A not bad, but not good way to end the series. Both Thais and Clio experiment with dark magic, with varying results. Finally someone points out that everyone has good and evil, or dark and light in them, and each is a choice and sometimes a not very obvious one.

I quite liked the revelation about Carmela. It was also good to see the effects of the last ritual circle continuing - for instance the two members that are now growing up and aging. It was also good to find out that actually there was a limit to the power of the original rite, and exactly what was causing the apparent immortality of the Treize.

I got quite bored with the teenage girl obsessed with boys and clothes, but I expect this is very welcome for the intended audience. I was primarily reading this series as a series about magic and the fantastical. Overall the series was okay, and fine at a length of four small books. The New Orleans setting was quite good, and magic and belief system was interesting. ( )

I'm glad that I finally ordered a used copy and finished the series. I with she would write something new! ( )

I started this series because I had to review the first two books, and since a friend of mine bought 3 and 4 I read those as well. I don't really know why, since the whole wicca and teenage struggle-setting of these series doesn't appeal to me all that much. Maybe it's the nice pace of the story and the interesting characters of the Treize that kept me going. Anyhow, this fourth book was pretty much what I expected, though the climax was a bit of a let-down. I mean, Big Evil Bitch shows up, waves her hands a bit, and then simply leaves again? Where's the fun in that? I can't quite figure out whether there are going to be any more books in this series, but I don't think I'll read them since this one had enough of a 'finished' feeling to it to let me off.

Rating : 4.5/5
Number in Series : #4 in Balefire series
Reason for Reading : To complete the series

This is sadly the final book in the Balefire series. Both twins (Clio and Thais) are now both experimenting with dark magic. Thais is working with Carmella, learning how to strip another witch of their powers without killing them. Clio is working with Daedalus who is teaching her to become immune to others taking her power and how to use and manipulate the power of others.

Things between Richard and Clio heat up further and sadly things between Thias and non-witch Kevin hit a large snag. This leaves both twins with further decisions playing on their minds. The relationships within the rest of the Treize unfold further and there are lots of twists and unexpected turns that weave around the main plot and story. The return of Melita, the dark witch who started the whole mess, brings everything to a head for a final confrontation.

I am so sad this series has finished, it felt like there was so much more to tell. I really enjoyed it, it was my favourite of the four. Some great unexpected events unfold that I didn't see coming. I was glad that no cats were harmed during the writing of this book as I had to hold my breath a couple of times... I was really flad that the rest of the members of the Treize seemed to have as much writing time as the twins as the story is as much about them in the end. Go and read this series! ( )