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Balefire #1
A Chalice of Wind
Separated 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. Original.
250 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 18, 2005
46 people are currently reading
4006 people want to read
About the author
Cate Tiernan
104 books3,812 followers"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.
" -Source
Cate Tiernan is a pseudonym for Gabrielle Charbonnet
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.
" -Source
Cate Tiernan is a pseudonym for Gabrielle Charbonnet
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
August 14, 2020
Not:henüz ikinci kitabı bitirmedim(büyük ihtimalle DNF olacak) ama yazar her bakımdan batırdı ,seri çöp kıvamına geldi..
Muhtemelen Çok düşük beklentiyle başladığım için kitabı beğendim 🤪 Cadılar ve meclisleri,büyüleri ,karanlık gizemli durumları vs seviyorsanız okuyun bence ama uyarayım ilişkiler çarpık ve çok karışık (bu durumdan ne kadar şikâyetçi olduğumu biliyorsunuz ama işin tuhafı bu kitapta beni rahatsız etmedi)
Muhtemelen Çok düşük beklentiyle başladığım için kitabı beğendim 🤪 Cadılar ve meclisleri,büyüleri ,karanlık gizemli durumları vs seviyorsanız okuyun bence ama uyarayım ilişkiler çarpık ve çok karışık (bu durumdan ne kadar şikâyetçi olduğumu biliyorsunuz ama işin tuhafı bu kitapta beni rahatsız etmedi)
October 30, 2007
As the author of Sweep, I had very high expectations of Tiernan for this series.
I enjoyed the fact that their true loves were not found as easily as we initially thought. There was obviously something off about their guy, but his betrayal was pleasantly different from Cal's in her previous series.
Fantastic book; compelling, addictive and enjoyable...but I don't think it was her best work. Nancy Holder's Wicca series is very similar and was pubished beforehand, the parellals are uncanny; deaf feline familiars, dead parents and the child moves, old french magicks. But hey, there's a limited amount you can write about that hasn't been done.
I repeat, a fantastic book (better than holder's) but I was looking for something more original. Let it be known that I am hating myself as I write this for betraying this most esteemed author.
Nevertheless, the characters were vivid and the 1st person perspective worked flawlessly.
I shouldn't be so judgemental, I haven't read the others yet and the first seemed like the set-up-book.
Love the french pronunciations. Tye-ees. Love it.
I enjoyed the fact that their true loves were not found as easily as we initially thought. There was obviously something off about their guy, but his betrayal was pleasantly different from Cal's in her previous series.
Fantastic book; compelling, addictive and enjoyable...but I don't think it was her best work. Nancy Holder's Wicca series is very similar and was pubished beforehand, the parellals are uncanny; deaf feline familiars, dead parents and the child moves, old french magicks. But hey, there's a limited amount you can write about that hasn't been done.
I repeat, a fantastic book (better than holder's) but I was looking for something more original. Let it be known that I am hating myself as I write this for betraying this most esteemed author.
Nevertheless, the characters were vivid and the 1st person perspective worked flawlessly.
I shouldn't be so judgemental, I haven't read the others yet and the first seemed like the set-up-book.
Love the french pronunciations. Tye-ees. Love it.
January 16, 2020
wait why did i actually like the romance??
July 29, 2016
it kept me wondering what was going on. i was not confused. it was told in a way that kept you guessing. i like that.
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.
April 18, 2011
I don't really feel the need to go into an in-depth review for this book. I read it within twenty-four hours. Not because it was so good that I couldn't put it down, but because it was an easy, fluffy read, and short. There were a lot of instances that it was quite cheesy actually- most particularly with the romance and some of the "action". I'd read Cate Tiernan's other work (the "Sweeps'" series) and I'd have to say that it was better than this, although I'm not a real huge fan overall. I do like the magic and mystery that is put into the plotlines. As an adult, I guess I would just like it better if I were just a bit younger. You can tell it's for a younger audience. I read a lot of YA, but even most of the YA I read still appeals to an audience in my age range and older as well. This just didn't do it for me so much here. I'll still continue on to the next book sooner or later, however, because I have them all (bought them all at once at a discounted price) and they're short anyway. The storyline is intriguing, too, I guess. This is one series that I do think, in my opinion, would probably would have been more appealing without the romance for a change, though. I hate when characters "fall in love" after one brief encounter. It's very unrealistic.
May 29, 2012
Balefire 1 is pretty meh. There are three different POVs. Two first person and one third person, that switches between the 10 or so members of the coven. It's not difficult to follow, but feels pretty unnecessary to include so many POVs.
The two main characters (first person narrators) are both pretty annoying brats. Annoying bratty twins. One is a bit worse than the other, but neither are likeable. They got better towards the end of the novel, but I'm not sure whether that was character development or simply inconsistent characterization. I did like that one of the girls (Clio) is self-confident, likes to flirt and is proactive instead of passive. It's a nice change from the standard YA heroine, which is more like the other sister (Thais). But I'm skeptical about the future developments. Clio might well turn into a bad guy, because she is jealous of her sister or be punished for her "superficiality".
Now, the story is almost non-existent. I read somewhere that Balefire was intended as a series with 10+ books and the story was stretched out accordingly. But apparently there was never actually enough story for so many books, which might be why you end up with 250 pages for one book, which is super short already, and still basically nothing happens. I disagree with the whole "but the first book in a series is just an introduction" argument. Being an introduction doesn't have to mean no story or no suspense or no actual content apart from presenting the characters. I read plenty of intriguing first installments, and it's those that make me want to continue a series. So, Balefire 1 offers little more than a characters presentation.
We also get two times of big mega instant love. Granted, the author does add a nice twist to the whole thing, but I'm sure one of the two will still work out in the end. I would have preferred if the reader could actually understand why the girls fell for the guys within half an hour to a point of "omg I want to marry him and spent the rest of my life with him" apart from the good looks, because the dialogues weren't all that profound.
Well, Balefire is not the worst YA paranormal romance novel out there, but it is far from impressive. Recommended for readers who are especially interested in pagan mythology, because Balefire is definitely much better than House of Night.
The two main characters (first person narrators) are both pretty annoying brats. Annoying bratty twins. One is a bit worse than the other, but neither are likeable. They got better towards the end of the novel, but I'm not sure whether that was character development or simply inconsistent characterization. I did like that one of the girls (Clio) is self-confident, likes to flirt and is proactive instead of passive. It's a nice change from the standard YA heroine, which is more like the other sister (Thais). But I'm skeptical about the future developments. Clio might well turn into a bad guy, because she is jealous of her sister or be punished for her "superficiality".
Now, the story is almost non-existent. I read somewhere that Balefire was intended as a series with 10+ books and the story was stretched out accordingly. But apparently there was never actually enough story for so many books, which might be why you end up with 250 pages for one book, which is super short already, and still basically nothing happens. I disagree with the whole "but the first book in a series is just an introduction" argument. Being an introduction doesn't have to mean no story or no suspense or no actual content apart from presenting the characters. I read plenty of intriguing first installments, and it's those that make me want to continue a series. So, Balefire 1 offers little more than a characters presentation.
We also get two times of big mega instant love. Granted, the author does add a nice twist to the whole thing, but I'm sure one of the two will still work out in the end. I would have preferred if the reader could actually understand why the girls fell for the guys within half an hour to a point of "omg I want to marry him and spent the rest of my life with him" apart from the good looks, because the dialogues weren't all that profound.
Well, Balefire is not the worst YA paranormal romance novel out there, but it is far from impressive. Recommended for readers who are especially interested in pagan mythology, because Balefire is definitely much better than House of Night.
May 25, 2012
I read this book for a second time now. The first time was so long ago, I cant even remember. I only remember that I didn't like it, couldn't really get into it, and probably compared it too much with the Wicca/Sweep series.
Now, years later, I was able to start reading it more objectively. But all the French still bugged me a lot. I hate the French language (I'm sorry, I just do) and I just don't see what it has to add to the story. I know they have a French past. But why not just write about it, instead of using all these French lines most kids wont even understand???
Other than this, I liked it better than before. Definitely not my favorite, Definitely NOT better than the Wicca/Sweep series. Those are by far still my all-time-favorites. However I was more engrossed in "A Chalice of Wind" than I was the first time. And it did leave me wanting to know how it's gonna end. So points for that, haha.
Other than this I have no idea what to say about the book :) Except maybe that the Dutch translation was awful. Too many spelling errors, many quotation marks forgotten, etc.
Now, years later, I was able to start reading it more objectively. But all the French still bugged me a lot. I hate the French language (I'm sorry, I just do) and I just don't see what it has to add to the story. I know they have a French past. But why not just write about it, instead of using all these French lines most kids wont even understand???
Other than this, I liked it better than before. Definitely not my favorite, Definitely NOT better than the Wicca/Sweep series. Those are by far still my all-time-favorites. However I was more engrossed in "A Chalice of Wind" than I was the first time. And it did leave me wanting to know how it's gonna end. So points for that, haha.
Other than this I have no idea what to say about the book :) Except maybe that the Dutch translation was awful. Too many spelling errors, many quotation marks forgotten, etc.
December 30, 2013
SUCH A GOOD AND UNIQUE BOOK!
August 9, 2022
So I read this book after reading the sweep series. It's definitely not a good, but it wasn't a horrible read. I just think everything I wayyyyy too fast paced and for that reason it's kinda difficult to enjoy that much. I'll continue reading the other books in the series however because I wanna know what happens next
May 3, 2010
Title: Chalice of Wind (Balefire #1)
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Razorbill (Penguin)
Before you read this review, let me take you on a brief history lesson involving Cate Tiernan and her books. Her first series, Sweep, was going to compromise four books, until it got so popular that Penguin commissioned twelve. Granted, they weren't THAT big, but come on, twelve books are hard to pull off. Yet she managed, and it's a personally enjoyable series, if a bit draggy (most likely due to expanding her outlines). This series took the opposite route. She planned a twelve to fifteen book series - and it got cut down to four due to low sales. Tiernan is a great writer, so I decided to pick up the books and see if she could capture my attention again.
Balefire starts off with two main protagonists: Thais (pronounced Tye-ees) and Clio. Thais' father dies, and leaves her to a mysterious 'family friend' in his will, so she has to pack her bags and move to New Orleans. Clio is a current New Orleans resident who practices Bonne Magie (White/Good Magic). They don't know it, but their lives and fates are intertwined. Both of these characters are done in first person, which I'm all for. I'm one of the few readers who enjoys alternative narratives for the most part. We are also treated to occasional third person narratives of various secondary characters, enacting a much larger part of the plotline.
What this book mostly encompasses is Thais' getting used to New Orleans, and her new guardian, Axelle, while Clio is trying to juggle a boyfriend she finds absolutely perfect, Andre. While it's all well and good, it's pretty obvious (and not a plot spoiler, either) that these two girls are twins. Thais' adjustment to the fact that Clio and her grandmother, Nan, are both relatives and practitioners of magick is interesting to read about, and quite well done. The only downside is that the alternating narratives make the plot much more slow going than I wanted it to be. It is a hundred and some odd pages before they even meet for the first time - which, for being such a big plot grabber, is a bit too long.
Tiernan, however, made me manage to want to keep reading the series, and not just because the books are still pretty quick and written by her hand. The characters shine just as much as those in Sweep - maybe even more so. Thais' views on magick and her views on it's questionable status as a religion are so believable. In fact, a common theme I've noticed in Tiernan's work is a fair and easy going treatment of religions. She finds ways to explore them without making them seem wrong or dangerous. Clio is a little less interesting, being a more shallow personality and easily readable. The secondary characters such as Axelle and Nan are done well, though there are so many of them that keeping track is hard. This is mostly due to the narrative structure again.
Tiernan's writing is still the same, and she works with the world building in such a breathtaking manner. Her descriptions of New Orleans and its many parts and hidden crannies make it seem like such a three-dimensional place to be. Usually the setting is a backdrop for characters, but Tiernan actually makes it a huge part of the story. Her usage of French due to the family lineage of the witches and the locale was also well done. The idea was done by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie as well, as brought up by other reviews, but I find Tiernan's world much more fascinating. And, as per usual, her male characters are spot on admirable. Though I have to say, I much prefer Luc, Thais' potential beau, to Andre, Clio's supposed 'true love'. Andre is much like your main male protagonist from Sweep - nearly perfect and accepting in every way. Luc is much more original - and hey, I have a thing for those complex men. :)
Overall, I can't say I really enjoyed this book. I had every reason too, but it suffered too much from it's placement as a first book in a long series, particularly as one with a different narrative set-up. However, the good characters and amazingly drawn-out setting make it worth a look as a series, especially coupled with Tiernan's writing. I just wish it was more of a BAM novel than a set-up one, because I know that her writing has the ability to achieve it. On another, more positive note, it also has me looking forward to her newest book, Immortal Beloved, which I am very anxious to read.
Rating: 3 Stars
Copy: Borrowed from library
Review originally posted on Dreaming in Books by me, http://dreaminginbooks.blogspot.com, my YA book review blog. :P
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Razorbill (Penguin)
Before you read this review, let me take you on a brief history lesson involving Cate Tiernan and her books. Her first series, Sweep, was going to compromise four books, until it got so popular that Penguin commissioned twelve. Granted, they weren't THAT big, but come on, twelve books are hard to pull off. Yet she managed, and it's a personally enjoyable series, if a bit draggy (most likely due to expanding her outlines). This series took the opposite route. She planned a twelve to fifteen book series - and it got cut down to four due to low sales. Tiernan is a great writer, so I decided to pick up the books and see if she could capture my attention again.
Balefire starts off with two main protagonists: Thais (pronounced Tye-ees) and Clio. Thais' father dies, and leaves her to a mysterious 'family friend' in his will, so she has to pack her bags and move to New Orleans. Clio is a current New Orleans resident who practices Bonne Magie (White/Good Magic). They don't know it, but their lives and fates are intertwined. Both of these characters are done in first person, which I'm all for. I'm one of the few readers who enjoys alternative narratives for the most part. We are also treated to occasional third person narratives of various secondary characters, enacting a much larger part of the plotline.
What this book mostly encompasses is Thais' getting used to New Orleans, and her new guardian, Axelle, while Clio is trying to juggle a boyfriend she finds absolutely perfect, Andre. While it's all well and good, it's pretty obvious (and not a plot spoiler, either) that these two girls are twins. Thais' adjustment to the fact that Clio and her grandmother, Nan, are both relatives and practitioners of magick is interesting to read about, and quite well done. The only downside is that the alternating narratives make the plot much more slow going than I wanted it to be. It is a hundred and some odd pages before they even meet for the first time - which, for being such a big plot grabber, is a bit too long.
Tiernan, however, made me manage to want to keep reading the series, and not just because the books are still pretty quick and written by her hand. The characters shine just as much as those in Sweep - maybe even more so. Thais' views on magick and her views on it's questionable status as a religion are so believable. In fact, a common theme I've noticed in Tiernan's work is a fair and easy going treatment of religions. She finds ways to explore them without making them seem wrong or dangerous. Clio is a little less interesting, being a more shallow personality and easily readable. The secondary characters such as Axelle and Nan are done well, though there are so many of them that keeping track is hard. This is mostly due to the narrative structure again.
Tiernan's writing is still the same, and she works with the world building in such a breathtaking manner. Her descriptions of New Orleans and its many parts and hidden crannies make it seem like such a three-dimensional place to be. Usually the setting is a backdrop for characters, but Tiernan actually makes it a huge part of the story. Her usage of French due to the family lineage of the witches and the locale was also well done. The idea was done by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie as well, as brought up by other reviews, but I find Tiernan's world much more fascinating. And, as per usual, her male characters are spot on admirable. Though I have to say, I much prefer Luc, Thais' potential beau, to Andre, Clio's supposed 'true love'. Andre is much like your main male protagonist from Sweep - nearly perfect and accepting in every way. Luc is much more original - and hey, I have a thing for those complex men. :)
Overall, I can't say I really enjoyed this book. I had every reason too, but it suffered too much from it's placement as a first book in a long series, particularly as one with a different narrative set-up. However, the good characters and amazingly drawn-out setting make it worth a look as a series, especially coupled with Tiernan's writing. I just wish it was more of a BAM novel than a set-up one, because I know that her writing has the ability to achieve it. On another, more positive note, it also has me looking forward to her newest book, Immortal Beloved, which I am very anxious to read.
Rating: 3 Stars
Copy: Borrowed from library
Review originally posted on Dreaming in Books by me, http://dreaminginbooks.blogspot.com, my YA book review blog. :P
April 18, 2010
From the Witchy Books Network review blog.
I'm reviewing the Balefire series as a whole because, while it is currently out of print, it will soon be reprinted in one volume some time around the holidays. However, I'll try not to give too much away in case you want to hunt down the original volumes (A Chalice of Wind, A Circle of Ashes, A Feather of Stone, and A Necklace of Water).
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.
I'm reviewing the Balefire series as a whole because, while it is currently out of print, it will soon be reprinted in one volume some time around the holidays. However, I'll try not to give too much away in case you want to hunt down the original volumes (A Chalice of Wind, A Circle of Ashes, A Feather of Stone, and A Necklace of Water).
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.
August 12, 2021
I am deeply confused. Maybe because i flew through the last three chapters but I have some problems and some questions that i'll list down below:
1. Petra's the bad person, correct? Or am i just missing something? The grandma killed their mother in a rite, so she's sketchy. Is the coven bad or just stupid?
2. The guy playing both twins was predictable. I got Cal vibes from him very early on so i knew to expect a betrayal off the bat.
3. New Orleans is a good setting for this type of plot/story line, but I would have liked the setting to be more descriptive. Like actually describe the setting instead of just being like "The French Quarter this" and "Mardi Gras that". Set the stage besides the heat. Paint the picture in vivid detail so i can actually picture these characters there.
Other then that, it was an okay story about twin witches. Sweep is better, but then again, i've only read up to the fourth or fifth book of the Sweep series, so that's all i can say on that matter.
Let's see how I feel about the next book, A Circle Of Ashes.
1. Petra's the bad person, correct? Or am i just missing something? The grandma killed their mother in a rite, so she's sketchy. Is the coven bad or just stupid?
2. The guy playing both twins was predictable. I got Cal vibes from him very early on so i knew to expect a betrayal off the bat.
3. New Orleans is a good setting for this type of plot/story line, but I would have liked the setting to be more descriptive. Like actually describe the setting instead of just being like "The French Quarter this" and "Mardi Gras that". Set the stage besides the heat. Paint the picture in vivid detail so i can actually picture these characters there.
Other then that, it was an okay story about twin witches. Sweep is better, but then again, i've only read up to the fourth or fifth book of the Sweep series, so that's all i can say on that matter.
Let's see how I feel about the next book, A Circle Of Ashes.
April 7, 2012
Clio and Thais are twins who have never met each other. They were separated at birth, Clio living in New Orleans and Thais in New England. But when Thais father is killed, she is brought to New Orleans to live with a woman she has never met before. Eventually, Clio and Thais meet and Thais is shocked to discover that she hales from a long line of witches. And Clio and Thais are both surprised to discover that twins have a special meaning to a coven of witches that want to claim them for their own. Who can they trust?
I loved Cate Tiernan's Sweep series and was thrilled to find the Balefire series. A Chalice of Wind is the first in the 4 book series and I was not disappointed. As always, Tiernan has her teens down pat. These are real teens who don't always behave as good girls should. And the witch part of the story is really intriquing. Can't wait to see where this is going.
I loved Cate Tiernan's Sweep series and was thrilled to find the Balefire series. A Chalice of Wind is the first in the 4 book series and I was not disappointed. As always, Tiernan has her teens down pat. These are real teens who don't always behave as good girls should. And the witch part of the story is really intriquing. Can't wait to see where this is going.
March 17, 2012
Thais Allard loses her father and moves to New Orleans to live with a stranger. Clio Martin lives in New Orleans with her grandmother. Around the same time, both girls find mysterious guys who talk a good game but seem suspicious...at least to me. I don't know maybe it's just me but I don't remember being that naive. Both Luc and Andre are spouting nonsense just to get laid and both Thais and Clio fall for it hook, line and sinker. I just can't believe that anyone real or imagined would fall for such corny twaddle.
When Thais and Clio meet at school, they realize something weird is going on and confront their guardians. Then really strange things start happening. It reads a lot like the Sweep series with boyfriend betrayal, deadly enemies and secrets but this coven has a doozy. I wasn't sure I was going to read further in this series but the crazy ending convinced me to continue.
When Thais and Clio meet at school, they realize something weird is going on and confront their guardians. Then really strange things start happening. It reads a lot like the Sweep series with boyfriend betrayal, deadly enemies and secrets but this coven has a doozy. I wasn't sure I was going to read further in this series but the crazy ending convinced me to continue.
October 12, 2010
The beginning was a bit irritating because of the way the characters were introduced. However, the book is picking up a bit. The book is a little slow to reveal where the plot is leading. It's best to think of the first book as a prologue to the series. It's basically setting the "scene." However, about two-thirds of the way through the book it does pick up a bit. It still left me wanting to read the rest of the series, but I wish the author would have combined the first two books into a single novel. Basically, give the book a chance and expect the first book to be a little slow.
June 20, 2014
Lise dramlarını özlemişim valla. Clio is a totally bitch.
April 2, 2017
For my written review, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
August 24, 2016
„[…]Wir sind verbunden durch die Zeit. Wir sind verbunden durch das Schicksal. Wir sind verbunden durch das Leben. Wir sind verbunden durch den Tod […]“ (S.22)
Zum Buchinhalt
Mit dem Tod ihres Vaters ändert sich das Leben der siebzehnjährigen Thais mit einem Schlag. Nicht nur, dass sie ihr Zuhause, ihr gewohntes Umfeld und ihre Freunde zurücklassen und ein neues Leben in New Orleans anfangen muss…Nein, sie muss auch noch zu einer wildfremden Frau ziehen, die angeblich eine gute Freundin ihres Vaters ist, von der Thais jedoch bisher weder etwas gehört noch gesehen hat. Und als wäre das nicht schon Veränderung genug, steht Thais am ersten Schultag plötzlich ihrem exakten Ebenbild gegenüber – Clio ihre eineiige Zwillingsschwester, die behauptet eine Hexe zu sein! Während die beiden Mädchen also lernen müssen mit diesen neuen Wahrheiten und einer total gegensätzlichen Zwillingsschwester zu leben, schmieden höhere Mächte bereits Pläne, wie sie sich die Kräfte der Mädchen für ihre eigenen Zwecke zu nutzen machen können...
Meine Meinung
Als ich den Klappentext zu „Hexenflammen“ gelesen hatte, war ich sofort begeistert und sicher, dass mir die Geschichte gefallen wird. Zwei Zwillingsschwestern, die nichts von der Existenz der anderen wissen und sich dann rein zufällig über den Weg laufen… Erinnert mich ein bisschen an das doppelte Lottchen^^ In Verbindung mit einer Hexengeschichte… das konnte nur gut werden.
Doch als ich mit dem Lesen begonnen habe, hatte ich zunächst ein paar Schwierigkeiten mich in der Handlung einzufinden. Daran war nicht der Einstieg Schuld. Dieser ist ziemlich gelungen…Es lag viel mehr daran, dass man in den ersten Kapiteln regelrecht mit Namen überschüttet wurde. Kann sein, dass es nur mir so ging, aber jedes Mal wenn ein neue Person und demnach auch ein neuer Name ins Spiel gebracht wurde ohne große Erklärungen, dachte ich mir nur: „Hilfe!! Wer ist denn das schon wieder?!“ Ich stand wirklich kurz davor das Buch abzubrechen und ich hätte es wahrscheinlich auch gemacht, wenn es Cate Tiernan nicht doch noch gelungen wäre mich in die Geschichte eintauchen zu lassen.
Nach der ersten Begegnung von Thais und Clio nimmt das ganze Geschehen um einiges mehr an Spannung zu, sodass ich das Buch fast gar nicht mehr aus der Hand legen wollte. Ich wollte unbedingt wissen warum die beiden voneinander getrennt wurden und warum Clios Großmutter all die Jahre verheimlicht, dass Clio eine Zwillingsschwester hat. Wusste sie es vielleicht gar nicht oder wollte sie einfach nichts sagen? Gemeinsam mit den zwei habe ich mich auf die Suche nach Antworten gemacht. Eine Suche die viele Geheimnisse zu Tage brachte, sowie einigen spannenden Wendungen bereit hielt, die für mich stellenweise recht vorhersehbar waren, meinem Lesevergnügen allerdings keinen Abbruch getan haben.
Mein erster Eindruck von Clio war nicht unbedingt der positivste. Sie hat auf mich sehr oberflächlich und ein wenig eingebildet gewirkt. Kein Wunder, schließlich ist sie eins der beliebtesten Mädchen an der Highschool, strotzt nur vor Selbstbewusstsein und weiß ganz genau wie sie auf Jungs wirkt. (Letzeres nutzt sie gerne zu ihrem eigenen Vorteil) Doch wenn sie mit ihrer Großmutter zusammen war, kam auch die nette Seite von ihr zum Vorschein. Später waren ihre Gedanken über Thais zwar wieder ein wenig gehässig, doch wer kann ihr das übel nehmen? Sie musste bisher mit niemanden irgendetwas teilen. Warum sollte sie jetzt damit anfangen?
Im Vergleich zu ihrer Schwester Clio ist Thais das genaue Gegenteil: schüchtern, zurückhaltend, ängstlich. In ihren Gedanken erfährt man zwar, dass sie an ihrer alten Schule durchaus beliebt war, doch nun ist sie ja neu in einer Stadt, in der sie niemanden kennt. Thais war mir von Anfang an sympathisch, da ich ihre Gefühle absolut nachvollziehen konnte. Erst der Tod ihres Vaters und dann landet sie bei dieser merkwürdigen Axelle, obwohl sie dieser Frau noch nie in ihrem Leben begegnet ist! Ich glaube in der Situation wäre ich auch verzweifelt.
Dadurch das die Geschichte abwechselnd aus der Sicht von Clio und Thais in der Ich-Perspektive erzählt wird, bekommt man als Leser noch einmal auf besondere Art und Weise mit was die beiden denken, fühlen etc. Darüber hinaus gibt es zwischendurch noch einige Kapitel, die aus der Sicht von verschiedenen anderen Personen erzählt werden. Auf diese Weise lernt man noch ein paar Nebencharaktere kennen, die im späteren Verlauf noch eine wichtige Rolle spielen werden.
Cate Tiernan erzählt die Geschichte mit einem flüssigen und einfach gehaltenen Schreibstil, sodass die Seiten nur so dahinfliegen. Jedoch beschreibt sie sehr knapp und spricht manches nur oberflächlich ohne viele Erklärungen an, sodass bei mir relativ viele Fragen offen geblieben sind. Natürlich möchte die Autorin so Spannung aufbauen und sich vielleicht auch Stoff für die weiteren Bände behalten (was ich gut nachvollziehen kann) aber dadurch wirkte die Handlung ein wenig gehetzt. Gut gefallen hat mir hingegen, dass, auf Grund der Herkunft von Clios und Thais' Familie, immer wieder französische Wörter im Text zu finden waren. Das hatte was :) Für Leser, die allerdings kein Französisch verstehen, könnte das etwas störend sein, wobei meistens erklärt wird, was die Worte bedeuten.
Mein Fazit
Mit dem Auftakt ihrer Hexensaga entführt Cate Tiernan ihre Leser in das magische New Orleans, wo traditionelle Voodoorituale, alte Sagen und Legenden zum Alltag dazugehören. Hier in dieser Stadt lässt sie zwei eineiige Zwillingsschwestern aufeinandertreffen, die unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnten - Spannende Wendungen und Überraschungen vorprogrammiert! Anfangs hatte ich ein paar Probleme mich in der Handlung zu Recht zu finden, doch nachdem diese Starschwierigkeiten überwunden waren, konnte mich die Autorin von ihrer Idee überzeugen und an das Buch fesseln. Meine Fragen wurden zwar nicht alle beantwortet, aber dadurch bin ich umso gespannter, was mich in den nächsten drei Bänden erwarten wird. Es ist definitiv noch Luft nach oben!
Zum Buchinhalt
Mit dem Tod ihres Vaters ändert sich das Leben der siebzehnjährigen Thais mit einem Schlag. Nicht nur, dass sie ihr Zuhause, ihr gewohntes Umfeld und ihre Freunde zurücklassen und ein neues Leben in New Orleans anfangen muss…Nein, sie muss auch noch zu einer wildfremden Frau ziehen, die angeblich eine gute Freundin ihres Vaters ist, von der Thais jedoch bisher weder etwas gehört noch gesehen hat. Und als wäre das nicht schon Veränderung genug, steht Thais am ersten Schultag plötzlich ihrem exakten Ebenbild gegenüber – Clio ihre eineiige Zwillingsschwester, die behauptet eine Hexe zu sein! Während die beiden Mädchen also lernen müssen mit diesen neuen Wahrheiten und einer total gegensätzlichen Zwillingsschwester zu leben, schmieden höhere Mächte bereits Pläne, wie sie sich die Kräfte der Mädchen für ihre eigenen Zwecke zu nutzen machen können...
Meine Meinung
Als ich den Klappentext zu „Hexenflammen“ gelesen hatte, war ich sofort begeistert und sicher, dass mir die Geschichte gefallen wird. Zwei Zwillingsschwestern, die nichts von der Existenz der anderen wissen und sich dann rein zufällig über den Weg laufen… Erinnert mich ein bisschen an das doppelte Lottchen^^ In Verbindung mit einer Hexengeschichte… das konnte nur gut werden.
Doch als ich mit dem Lesen begonnen habe, hatte ich zunächst ein paar Schwierigkeiten mich in der Handlung einzufinden. Daran war nicht der Einstieg Schuld. Dieser ist ziemlich gelungen…Es lag viel mehr daran, dass man in den ersten Kapiteln regelrecht mit Namen überschüttet wurde. Kann sein, dass es nur mir so ging, aber jedes Mal wenn ein neue Person und demnach auch ein neuer Name ins Spiel gebracht wurde ohne große Erklärungen, dachte ich mir nur: „Hilfe!! Wer ist denn das schon wieder?!“ Ich stand wirklich kurz davor das Buch abzubrechen und ich hätte es wahrscheinlich auch gemacht, wenn es Cate Tiernan nicht doch noch gelungen wäre mich in die Geschichte eintauchen zu lassen.
Nach der ersten Begegnung von Thais und Clio nimmt das ganze Geschehen um einiges mehr an Spannung zu, sodass ich das Buch fast gar nicht mehr aus der Hand legen wollte. Ich wollte unbedingt wissen warum die beiden voneinander getrennt wurden und warum Clios Großmutter all die Jahre verheimlicht, dass Clio eine Zwillingsschwester hat. Wusste sie es vielleicht gar nicht oder wollte sie einfach nichts sagen? Gemeinsam mit den zwei habe ich mich auf die Suche nach Antworten gemacht. Eine Suche die viele Geheimnisse zu Tage brachte, sowie einigen spannenden Wendungen bereit hielt, die für mich stellenweise recht vorhersehbar waren, meinem Lesevergnügen allerdings keinen Abbruch getan haben.
Mein erster Eindruck von Clio war nicht unbedingt der positivste. Sie hat auf mich sehr oberflächlich und ein wenig eingebildet gewirkt. Kein Wunder, schließlich ist sie eins der beliebtesten Mädchen an der Highschool, strotzt nur vor Selbstbewusstsein und weiß ganz genau wie sie auf Jungs wirkt. (Letzeres nutzt sie gerne zu ihrem eigenen Vorteil) Doch wenn sie mit ihrer Großmutter zusammen war, kam auch die nette Seite von ihr zum Vorschein. Später waren ihre Gedanken über Thais zwar wieder ein wenig gehässig, doch wer kann ihr das übel nehmen? Sie musste bisher mit niemanden irgendetwas teilen. Warum sollte sie jetzt damit anfangen?
Im Vergleich zu ihrer Schwester Clio ist Thais das genaue Gegenteil: schüchtern, zurückhaltend, ängstlich. In ihren Gedanken erfährt man zwar, dass sie an ihrer alten Schule durchaus beliebt war, doch nun ist sie ja neu in einer Stadt, in der sie niemanden kennt. Thais war mir von Anfang an sympathisch, da ich ihre Gefühle absolut nachvollziehen konnte. Erst der Tod ihres Vaters und dann landet sie bei dieser merkwürdigen Axelle, obwohl sie dieser Frau noch nie in ihrem Leben begegnet ist! Ich glaube in der Situation wäre ich auch verzweifelt.
Dadurch das die Geschichte abwechselnd aus der Sicht von Clio und Thais in der Ich-Perspektive erzählt wird, bekommt man als Leser noch einmal auf besondere Art und Weise mit was die beiden denken, fühlen etc. Darüber hinaus gibt es zwischendurch noch einige Kapitel, die aus der Sicht von verschiedenen anderen Personen erzählt werden. Auf diese Weise lernt man noch ein paar Nebencharaktere kennen, die im späteren Verlauf noch eine wichtige Rolle spielen werden.
Cate Tiernan erzählt die Geschichte mit einem flüssigen und einfach gehaltenen Schreibstil, sodass die Seiten nur so dahinfliegen. Jedoch beschreibt sie sehr knapp und spricht manches nur oberflächlich ohne viele Erklärungen an, sodass bei mir relativ viele Fragen offen geblieben sind. Natürlich möchte die Autorin so Spannung aufbauen und sich vielleicht auch Stoff für die weiteren Bände behalten (was ich gut nachvollziehen kann) aber dadurch wirkte die Handlung ein wenig gehetzt. Gut gefallen hat mir hingegen, dass, auf Grund der Herkunft von Clios und Thais' Familie, immer wieder französische Wörter im Text zu finden waren. Das hatte was :) Für Leser, die allerdings kein Französisch verstehen, könnte das etwas störend sein, wobei meistens erklärt wird, was die Worte bedeuten.
Mein Fazit
Mit dem Auftakt ihrer Hexensaga entführt Cate Tiernan ihre Leser in das magische New Orleans, wo traditionelle Voodoorituale, alte Sagen und Legenden zum Alltag dazugehören. Hier in dieser Stadt lässt sie zwei eineiige Zwillingsschwestern aufeinandertreffen, die unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnten - Spannende Wendungen und Überraschungen vorprogrammiert! Anfangs hatte ich ein paar Probleme mich in der Handlung zu Recht zu finden, doch nachdem diese Starschwierigkeiten überwunden waren, konnte mich die Autorin von ihrer Idee überzeugen und an das Buch fesseln. Meine Fragen wurden zwar nicht alle beantwortet, aber dadurch bin ich umso gespannter, was mich in den nächsten drei Bänden erwarten wird. Es ist definitiv noch Luft nach oben!
June 15, 2020
Hmmmmmmm.
I don't quite know what to think of this one. It was a simple, easy, quick read and i liked the concept, i really did. However, it was just too simple, nor was it interesting or intriguing enough. Once i finished reading it i just went, "Huh, Okay". The romance, if you can call it that, was absolutely Dreadful and felt like such a waste of time. One of my pet peeves in books is insta-love and being completely infatuated and in love with a guy that has the personality of a plank of wood. This had both. OH GOODY! I tuned out during the romantic parts as they felt forced and cliche with both twins saying they were in love within the first week of knowing the guy. I was hoping it was a spell being cast on them but, the sad part was, it appeared to be all real feelings.
Though, i didn't feel much from this one it was an okay read. I can't really say much other that but i am (sorta) interested in continuing the series.
I don't quite know what to think of this one. It was a simple, easy, quick read and i liked the concept, i really did. However, it was just too simple, nor was it interesting or intriguing enough. Once i finished reading it i just went, "Huh, Okay". The romance, if you can call it that, was absolutely Dreadful and felt like such a waste of time. One of my pet peeves in books is insta-love and being completely infatuated and in love with a guy that has the personality of a plank of wood. This had both. OH GOODY! I tuned out during the romantic parts as they felt forced and cliche with both twins saying they were in love within the first week of knowing the guy. I was hoping it was a spell being cast on them but, the sad part was, it appeared to be all real feelings.
Though, i didn't feel much from this one it was an okay read. I can't really say much other that but i am (sorta) interested in continuing the series.
October 9, 2020
First off, I want to say that I'm actually reading the version that has all four books in one. And really, if I had seen this cover in the store I would never have even thought about picking it up.
Not a whole lot is happening in this first book. Heck, Thais and Clio don't even meet until page 100. However, the chapters are short and the story moves along nicely. It does a good job of showing us who the girls are and building the background foundation for later. But omg there are so many freaking characters! I had to write down who people were as a reference. I had a feeling there was something wonky about these love interests that the girls both fell madly head over heels for though.
All in all, a good start to the series. There's not a lot of character growth at this point, but it's early so I'm hopeful. If you enjoy YA books with a witchy or supernatural bent to them, you'll like this.
Not a whole lot is happening in this first book. Heck, Thais and Clio don't even meet until page 100. However, the chapters are short and the story moves along nicely. It does a good job of showing us who the girls are and building the background foundation for later. But omg there are so many freaking characters! I had to write down who people were as a reference. I had a feeling there was something wonky about these love interests that the girls both fell madly head over heels for though.
All in all, a good start to the series. There's not a lot of character growth at this point, but it's early so I'm hopeful. If you enjoy YA books with a witchy or supernatural bent to them, you'll like this.
August 19, 2022
This was a good start but definitely felt like the first half of a much longer book. I like Cate Tiernan’s writing style, even if she veers into too-cheesy for me sometimes. But there’s something about her characters that keep me super engaged. I wish I had read this when it came out because it think I would’ve loved it. Either way, going to download the next book!
June 17, 2025
flew by faaaast. actually enjoyed this a lot! although it’s more of a set up for the next books in the series which I don’t think I’ll be reading anytime soon. I did find the feelings of teen girl angst and isolation and infatuation and grief to be very true like yes ofc these characters are dramatic and that’s how they should be! Also, witches!
August 8, 2025
I was pretty indifferent towards this book pretty much through the whole thing. It was neither good nor bad, just kind of... there. Certainly some moments were interesting, but as a whole... *shrugs* The writing is good, so it is definitely better than two stars. Maybe 3.5 overall. I have yet to decide if I will read the others or not.
April 25, 2018
Loved it! 💖 Cate Tiernan is one of my favorite authors. I fell in love with the Sweep series years ago so I knew her other books would b awesome. I love that this book had the same feel of that series. The end of this book sets up the story and I can't wait to read the second
December 3, 2021
I felt this book was generally decently written, with a few questionable or cringey moments. It suggests a deep, intricate world with interesting characters and more mysteries to solve. I'd love to see the way the magic works explained a bit more deeply.
February 20, 2023
I enjoyed this light and easy to read book. It was entertaining, unpredictable and dealt with an interesting subject. Although a YA book, as a definitely not young adult, I still enjoyed reading it and will look forward to future installments.
July 1, 2019
1.5/5 rounded up. Another book that the romance killed it for me 🤷🏻♀️
March 30, 2020
Really good story. Hard to get into but picked up and took off after a while
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