Rating: 
Summary: A pleasant surprise of a read
Review: 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 trascendent tale.This is a story that can be read and understood on a number of levels, and the message about the unfortunate consequences of love tainted with fear -- even with the best intentions -- is a quite relevant and timely one just now
Rating:
Summary: A pleasant surprise of a read
Review: 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 trascendent tale. This is a story that can be read and understood on a number of levels, and the message about the unfortunate consequences of love tainted with fear -- even with the best intentions -- is a quite relevant and timely one just now
Rating:
Summary: very nice read
Review: I thorough enjoyed this FICTIONAL piece of literature. It was fun. Alot of fun. And it is not meant to be historical, I think some of the other reviewers need to stop taking themselves so seriously and read history books if they want just facts. Anyone can take a piece of history and put a person into it and imagine what their life would have been like. Sure this is a little bit more than that, but that's what makes it so much fun. It's not your average boring novel about a "regular" person from a time in history. The characters are larger than life, what I expect in a good fiction novel. I will be moving on to the Vampire Chronicles next, as I thoroughly enjoy Ms. Kalogridis' writing.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reading!
Review: I was hoping to read a historical novel on the inquisition, but it is just a vague and overambitious attempt to embrace too many subjects (battles, pestilences, monastic life, paganism, inquisition, magic etc.). The flow of the narration is continuosly interrupted by dreams and flash-backs and the "final surprise" can be guessed almost at the beginning of the book for you know from the start the real nature of certain characters. The idea was good, but this book is definitely a missed opportunity. The author seems only too eager to imitate the more mature and complex narrative by Marion Zimmer Bradley.
Rating:
Summary: A special book written by a special author
Review: In 1357 France, the Inquisition agents of Cardinal Chretien arrest Franciscan Abbess Marie Francois. They charge her with heresy for practicing pagan rituals and magic, and for communicating with the devil. They plan to burn Marie at the stakes so she can serve as an example to those who stray from the right path of worshipping God. The reluctant Dominican scribe, Michel, who prefers to save souls, rather than dispatch people to the next life, is chosen to obtain Marie's confession. However, Michel feels Marie is pure, good, and holy instead of an evil witch. He decides to prove her innocent of the charges even after she admits her grandmother taught her the pagan ways. Forced to flee Marie whose birth name is Sybille joins the "Race" and seeks out her lover Luc de la Rose for the good of her "people". THE BURNING TIMES is at its best when it stays with fourteenth century realities like the Black Plague, the French Inquisition, the burning of witches at the stakes, and the pagan religions. When the plot veers into fantasyland, it loses speed as a different type of tale emerges. Likewise, key characters are impacted especially the heroine. As Marie she is an incredible individual struggling against a rising tide, but as Sybille she seems mythological as if she truly is Diana the Huntress. Known for her vampire tales, Jeanne Kalogridis has written an intriguing historical fiction that will attract readers, but the talented author took too big of a bite with this story line(s). Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: An absorbing medieval tale of witchcraft and persecution
Review: It is 1531, Carcassonne, France, a corner of the world beset by twin evils: the Inquisition and the Plague. In the vigilant pursuit of "witches", the French arm of the Inquisition tortures Mother Marie Francoise, aka Sybille, a nun denounced for "slaughter of innocent children, intercourse with the Devil and maleficeum against Pope Innocent". Of course, all so-called witches are charged with the same offences, the documents prepared and waiting for signatures. There are those in Carcassonne who see Mother Marie as a saint, but the die is cast, her death by burning at the stake preordained. The illiterate peasants are systematically seduced by the powerful Roman Church, whose hierarchy find it necessary to retain some of the "Goddess" or "pagan" myths and rituals, albeit in another form. Hence the "Goddess" becomes the "Virgin Mary", "earth" celebrations become feast days, etc. When Sister Marie, or Sybille, recounts her story to her Inquisitor, Michel (a former lover in another incarnation), the tale becomes tedious and simplistic, as a young Sybille is initiated into the ways of the Goddess. Historical fiction does bear some burden of truth. Ms. Kalogridis use of the infamous Inquisition as a vehicle for the Goddess gospel is disingenuous. Sybille is a so-called "good" or "white" witch, as opposed to the black arts. But here the whole thing becomes a fairytale of Avalon(ish) proportions. Assuming the myth is necessary to the rest of the novel, the Inquisition is merely a tool for evil deeds, a shield for sham, as it were. In reality, the Inquisition bred its own brand of evil and served to rid the Church of heretics and Jews. Given the superstition of the times, just the accusation of "witch" was an almost certain death sentence. But Ms. Kalogridis' use of the Inquisition as a venue for spreading the Goddess myth smacks of hubris in this silly story. The characters are stereotypical and shallow, the writing sophomoric. More correctly described as a Medieval fantasy, the tale would be much more believable and probably enjoyed by fans of that genre. The weight of this historical(?) tale barely tips the scale.
Rating: 
Summary: A well spun tale if you know what you're reading.
Review: It seems that previous reviews are littered with complaints about this novel. If you are considering purchasing this book, please let me set the record straight. This is a story told orally over the course two visits to a scribe. If the author had spent too much time "fleshing out characterization" it would have come off as phony, and the telling of it in the time given, to the scribe, would have been improbable. Also, this is not Wiccan fiction, but just fiction, and should not be held up to the standards and practices of Wiccan books. This is 1357 not 1957. Wicca wasn't around then (we won't even argue this point, you try and find Dorothy Clutterbuck, I'll give you a million if you can) and what with the people of the time believing in fairies and elves and other things magical and supernatural, and the prevalence of saints at the time, I don't believe she goes overboard on the fantastical. Oh, there aren't any elves and fairies in this story, by the way, I was just laying out my point. In any case, if you want to read a good story this one works. If you can't imagine yourself not reading something that challenges your mind or gains you entry into a book club for intellectual snobs, then you really SHOULD read this and just relax with a decent story for once and not analyze the death out of it. Happy reading, whoever you are.
Rating: 
Summary: Could Have Been Spectacular
Review: This book seems to be a rough draft of what could have been a fabulous story. Although purporting itself to be a historical novel, it has none of the richness or detail that would necessarily tie itself to this period of time. It could very well have taken place within a fantasy world, and might have actually fared much better if it wasn't tied to a specific point in history. The setting is lacking, as the history of the times is presented more as appended lists of unnecessary details rather than an as the foundation from which the action necessarily and organically flows. The characterization is very weak, and there is no real chance for the reader to learn to hate the enemy nor love the heroes, or to actually care which side wins. The plot is actually very good, but presented in such a way that the reader feels to be nothing more than a passive observer of events rather than an active participant in them. However, there are some good ideas presented within, and on the whole the book remains plausible and logically consistent. I would recommend this story in the sense that it is a perfect object lesson in "undeveloped potential"; that is, this is what your OUTLINE should be, not your final story, a lesson which unfortunately MOST of today's published authors have never learned. Had the author let her manuscript sit for a few months and then re-visited it, rather than send it to the publisher right away, she undoubtedly could have rewritten it to create a much more engaging, and perhaps even meaningful, story. The potential is there to explore the themes of love, fear, good, evil, destiny, and a host of others, but these ideas are developed into nothing more than high sounding words. As it is, she gets 2 stars. One for the plot, and one for the seeds of greatness that were sown but were never allowed to grow.
Rating:
Summary: Could Have Been Spectacular
Review: This book seems to be a rough draft of what could have been a fabulous story. Although purporting itself to be a historical novel, it has none of the richness or detail that would necessarily tie itself to this period of time. It could very well have taken place within a fantasy world, and might have actually fared much better if it wasn't tied to a specific point in history. The setting is lacking, as the history of the times is presented more as appended lists of unnecessary details rather than an as the foundation from which the action necessarily and organically flows. The characterization is very weak, and there is no real chance for the reader to learn to hate the enemy nor love the heroes, or to actually care which side wins. The plot is actually very good, but presented in such a way that the reader feels to be nothing more than a passive observer of events rather than an active participant in them. However, there are some good ideas presented within, and on the whole the book remains plausible and logically consistent. I would recommend this story in the sense that it is a perfect object lesson in "undeveloped potential"; that is, this is what your OUTLINE should be, not your final story, a lesson which unfortunately MOST of today's published authors have never learned. Had the author let her manuscript sit for a few months and then re-visited it, rather than send it to the publisher right away, she undoubtedly could have rewritten it to create a much more engaging, and perhaps even meaningful, story. The potential is there to explore the themes of love, fear, good, evil, destiny, and a host of others, but these ideas are developed into nothing more than high sounding words. As it is, she gets 2 stars. One for the plot, and one for the seeds of greatness that were sown but were never allowed to grow.
Rating:
Summary: very nice read
Review: This book starts out quite boring. I even parted with reading it for some time but when forced to read something I picked it back up again and believe it or not, it gets better. I would have to say that the boredom ceased once Sybille went off on her own. So hang in there and enjoy.
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