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Raine Benares #4
Bewitched & Betrayed
New from the national bestselling author of The Trouble with Demons
Raine Benares is a seeker. She finds lost things and missing people- usually alive. But now she's been bonded with the Saghred, a soul- stealing stone of unlimited power, and must hunt down its escapees. Especially since one of them is also hunting her...
Raine Benares is a seeker. She finds lost things and missing people- usually alive. But now she's been bonded with the Saghred, a soul- stealing stone of unlimited power, and must hunt down its escapees. Especially since one of them is also hunting her...
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 27, 2010
58 people are currently reading
1181 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Shearin
22 books1,104 followersLisa is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Raine Benares novels and The SPI Files.
Lisa is a voracious collector of fountain pens, teapots & teacups both vintage and modern. She lives on a small farm in North Carolina with her husband, four spoiled-rotten retired racing greyhounds, and enough deer and woodland creatures to fill a Disney movie.
Lisa is a voracious collector of fountain pens, teapots & teacups both vintage and modern. She lives on a small farm in North Carolina with her husband, four spoiled-rotten retired racing greyhounds, and enough deer and woodland creatures to fill a Disney movie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
April 25, 2017
As much as I enjoy the Raine Benares series (and I do enjoy it), I have to admit that the story doesn’t advance very much in each book. There is plenty of action, plenty of opportunities for Raine to beat on things or get beaten upon, but the actual story of her unwilling partnership with the evil Saghred stone doesn’t move much.
What this installment does give us is a shift in the three-way bond that she, Mychael, and Tam have been trying conceal from the Council. In some ways, it is nice to have resolution of the issue, if you believe that there must be only two people involved in an intimate bond. I find myself a bit disappointed, as I’d been hoping that we might actually get a realistic vision of what a polyandric relationship might look like. I see no reason why Raine should have to choose between Mychael and Tam—why can’t she choose them both? But apparently I am in the minority on this one.
Raine continues to be the competent fighter who tries to know her own limits. She is realistic enough to fight dirty when the occasion requires it and to rely on the people around her rather than go it alone. She is stubborn and snarky and yet often worried about her potential future if things go sideways with the Saghred. I am charmed by her circle of friends and relatives who have her back and I am heartened by the addition of a female goblin who may provide that necessary female friend that I believe that all female protagonists should have in their arsenals.
What this installment does give us is a shift in the three-way bond that she, Mychael, and Tam have been trying conceal from the Council. In some ways, it is nice to have resolution of the issue, if you believe that there must be only two people involved in an intimate bond. I find myself a bit disappointed, as I’d been hoping that we might actually get a realistic vision of what a polyandric relationship might look like. I see no reason why Raine should have to choose between Mychael and Tam—why can’t she choose them both? But apparently I am in the minority on this one.
Raine continues to be the competent fighter who tries to know her own limits. She is realistic enough to fight dirty when the occasion requires it and to rely on the people around her rather than go it alone. She is stubborn and snarky and yet often worried about her potential future if things go sideways with the Saghred. I am charmed by her circle of friends and relatives who have her back and I am heartened by the addition of a female goblin who may provide that necessary female friend that I believe that all female protagonists should have in their arsenals.
April 30, 2019
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Another marvelous adventure featuring Raine Benares and her usual roster of hottie elves and goblin males! Not to mention a super-villain (Sarad Nukpana) of note who just keeps getting worse and worse with each book. Yikes! This guy could give lessens to anyone turning to the darkside of the Force!
I can't wait to read the next book because each time a read another installment, I am hooked. A dark fantasy series to recommend to those who enjoy this genre and those who are looking to try it out.
Another marvelous adventure featuring Raine Benares and her usual roster of hottie elves and goblin males! Not to mention a super-villain (Sarad Nukpana) of note who just keeps getting worse and worse with each book. Yikes! This guy could give lessens to anyone turning to the darkside of the Force!
I can't wait to read the next book because each time a read another installment, I am hooked. A dark fantasy series to recommend to those who enjoy this genre and those who are looking to try it out.
April 4, 2014
I want to like these books so much, but the writing is just awful sometimes. SO MANY RECAPS. I don't need that many, especially when I'm reading the books back to back its so annoying! The romance story is frustrating, I'm about 70% through this and she just had sex with Mycheal, worst sex scene I've read ever! I didn't think it was possible,or maybe I just read too many romances as it is. But the writing just isnt there and I feel like the story goes in circles sometimes. Raine's family and every other pirate in this world I guess are mysteriously honorable when it comes to her. I can tell you, pirates are anything but honorable, according to my college pirates history class. Everyone just has unlimited power as well I guess, I'm convinced Raine only faints and needlessly puts herself in danger to move the story along. Mycheal and Tam and the arch mage never run out of power, it's all just destroying walls and people all the time with no power limit. I'm SO glad they finally put a map in the books (a least on my kindle version there wasn't one for the first 3), why wasn't that a day one entry?
I really want to like this series but the Mary sue-ness of Raine and poor story telling are killing it for me!
I really want to like this series but the Mary sue-ness of Raine and poor story telling are killing it for me!
June 1, 2010
I'm a sucker for this series, as my blog can tell you. I really love this world, and the characters have some very satisfying stuff happen to this in this installment. If you haven't tried out the series and like RPG games and D&D, definitely try it out!!
August 23, 2022
The triangle has been decided and the battle was won. Onto the war.
May 4, 2013
Sadly, I have given up on this series. I like the blend of witty dialogue and urban fantasy tone with high fantasy setting. I like the main character, Raine, an elf who works for the law but has relatives who are pirates. But I'm also tired of the series, for two reasons.
First, so much of each book is spent re-capping what has already happened. The first fifty to a hundred pages of the book told me everything I already knew. Worse, this is interspersed with new action, so I can't just skip it. Half of what was on a given page was new information, but the other half I already knew.
Second, the series moves too slowly for my taste. Each book is a bit of a major, epic story arc. This is fine. But each book didn't seem to accomplish much on its own. I know that in a long series it is a fine balance of trying to wrap up a story line for that book while still leaving some major plot threads open for the overall arc. To me, the individual books weren't wrapping up much of anything, so I didn't feel satisfied with them. I'm also tired of Raine's love triangle. I just wasn't interested anymore.
This series fizzled for me.
First, so much of each book is spent re-capping what has already happened. The first fifty to a hundred pages of the book told me everything I already knew. Worse, this is interspersed with new action, so I can't just skip it. Half of what was on a given page was new information, but the other half I already knew.
Second, the series moves too slowly for my taste. Each book is a bit of a major, epic story arc. This is fine. But each book didn't seem to accomplish much on its own. I know that in a long series it is a fine balance of trying to wrap up a story line for that book while still leaving some major plot threads open for the overall arc. To me, the individual books weren't wrapping up much of anything, so I didn't feel satisfied with them. I'm also tired of Raine's love triangle. I just wasn't interested anymore.
This series fizzled for me.
November 22, 2016
Aaaaaand I'm stopping here.
I really liked the first book. The second was good. The third was so boring I stopped 1/3 of the way through. This one was a struggle - nay, battle - to finish.
I like the characters, I do. And the world - elves, goblins, humans - is a fun one. BUT HOLY COW NOTHING CHANGES. Same characters, trying to hold back the evil stone, dodging evil elves and goblins, every single book. There's so much recap in the books that I didn't even need to read the third book. The villains die, come back to life, and keep trying to do the same nefarious things. After four books, it's not entertaining any more. Each book has the same plot, with a slightly different threat. It doesn't help that the books are almost constant action, with few pauses to breath, making the series feel like one ginormous novel strung together. Sorry, Raine, I liked you, but this series is too much for me.
I really liked the first book. The second was good. The third was so boring I stopped 1/3 of the way through. This one was a struggle - nay, battle - to finish.
I like the characters, I do. And the world - elves, goblins, humans - is a fun one. BUT HOLY COW NOTHING CHANGES. Same characters, trying to hold back the evil stone, dodging evil elves and goblins, every single book. There's so much recap in the books that I didn't even need to read the third book. The villains die, come back to life, and keep trying to do the same nefarious things. After four books, it's not entertaining any more. Each book has the same plot, with a slightly different threat. It doesn't help that the books are almost constant action, with few pauses to breath, making the series feel like one ginormous novel strung together. Sorry, Raine, I liked you, but this series is too much for me.
June 14, 2025
Stars: 3.5 out of 5
I liked this instalment less than the previous ones, but the story is still good. I think I am mostly growing tired of Sarad Nukpana and his deranged ways. I mean, yeah, he is getting set up as the big bad of the series, but he is a very one-dimensional character. There is only so much sadistic for sadism's sake I can take. And every time he opens his mouth, he sounds like he is reading a proclamation. Now that he is off the island, I really hope we take a break from his machinations at least for the next book.
And since Raine and friends have plenty of issues back on Mid, I hope they get to cul the ambitions of two very unpleasant elves (not to mention the leader of the Nightshades) before they go and try to overthrow the Goblin government.
All in all though, some of the many entanglements Raine got herself into were resolved in this book. Though I admit that I was surprised that Rudra Muralin met the end he did. Truth be told, he hasn't played much of a role in the previous book, with Sarad stepping into the spotlight, so taking him off the board was a logical move.
All in all, I'm still enjoying this series, and I will definitely read the next book.
I liked this instalment less than the previous ones, but the story is still good. I think I am mostly growing tired of Sarad Nukpana and his deranged ways. I mean, yeah, he is getting set up as the big bad of the series, but he is a very one-dimensional character. There is only so much sadistic for sadism's sake I can take. And every time he opens his mouth, he sounds like he is reading a proclamation. Now that he is off the island, I really hope we take a break from his machinations at least for the next book.
And since Raine and friends have plenty of issues back on Mid, I hope they get to cul the ambitions of two very unpleasant elves (not to mention the leader of the Nightshades) before they go and try to overthrow the Goblin government.
All in all though, some of the many entanglements Raine got herself into were resolved in this book. Though I admit that I was surprised that Rudra Muralin met the end he did. Truth be told, he hasn't played much of a role in the previous book, with Sarad stepping into the spotlight, so taking him off the board was a logical move.
All in all, I'm still enjoying this series, and I will definitely read the next book.
April 14, 2011
I Love a Raine Night
Once a Seeker with modest magical talents, Raine Benares is now bonded to a soul-sucking rock known as the Saghred and got both a major power upgrade and a plethora of people out to kill her so they can steal it and use it for their own nefarious purposes. Fortunately, Raine's not dead yet, and neither are the people she cares most about. For Raine, that constitutes a good day. Unfortunately for Raine, that's all that constitutes a good day in the continuing nightmare that is life as the Saghred's bondservant.
Now she's racing around trying to catch the twisted, evil souls that slipped from the Saghred when the Demon Queen managed to open it. The megalomaniacal psychopath Sarad Nukpana is one of those souls, but Raine has a deep, sinking, terrifying suspicion that she won't have to hunt down that monster. She has no doubt he'll be coming after her. When the dessicated corpse of a high ranking elven general is literally dropped at her feet with a message for her from Nukpana, her suspicions are confirmed. And worse, he says everyone she holds dear is next.
Another fun day in the life of Raine Benares.
Bewitched & Betrayed is just as action-packed, just as teeming with lovable characters, just as wild a roller coaster ride as the first three books in the series. Told in first person from Raine's POV, she is the core of the series and I adore her. She's such a feisty, stubborn elf, and despite odds most surely stacked against her, manages to grit her teeth (mostly to stop the screaming), lock her legs (uh...mostly to keep herself from fleeing in terror), and fight back with everything she is and ever will be. The narrative, her internal monologue, is rife with sardonic and self-effacing humor that makes her ever so sympathetic and lends a lot of humor to a seemingly never-ending series of increasingly deadly situations.
She's not fighting alone, though. She's got the elven force of light that is Paladin Mychael Eiliesor, and the seductive darkness that is goblin Tamnais Nathrach, as well as her cousin Phaelan and her bodyguard Vegard, among others. In fact, the longer she's chained to the Saghred, the more genuine friends and allies she realizes she has. That's probably a good thing, because the number of her enemies sure aren't getting any smaller. As secondary and ancillary characters, they're all richly drawn and nicely fleshed out. Even the horrifying ones.
And holy cow, Mychael was given a bunch of fantastic character development in this book. He was included in more of the story than he's been in the previous books (more Mychael is always a good thing) and we get to find out a little about his past. I loved every minute of it. Not to mention how much I adored the resolution of the romantic triangle between Raine, Mychael, and Tam. My hat is off to Lisa Shearin for that, because not only was it finally resolved and done without a lot of needless angst, it was also done with aplomb and in the big picture, genuinely furthered the overall series arc. I love it when that happens.
There are still a few issues, and they've been issues throughout the series. This book suffered a similar excess of exposition as other books in the series. In fact, because both the episodic book plot threads and the overall series arc plot threads are so complex and layered, with each book Raine's "synopsis" segments get longer and longer. Because I've read each book in the series, those sections seriously bog down the pacing, even as they allow for new readers to catch up with what's been going on so far. I'd love to see a far more condensed version of the exposition in future books.
One of the biggest issues I had with the previous books was far less prevalent in this book. Repetition in the narrative has been a complaint of mine since the first book in the series, Magic Lost, Trouble Found. Information and phrasing in the narrative was oft repeated throughout the books. There's still some of that, but to a far lesser degree. And while Raine of course mentions being a Benares and all that implies more than once, it seemed much less frequent than in previous books.
A few other big positives for this book were the resolution of a few of the dangling plot threads, the introduction of a couple of intriguing new characters, and some absolutely delicious series arc plot progression. I felt at the end of the last book, The Trouble with Demons, that Raine and Co. weren't any better off at the end of it than they were at the beginning, and the problems just kept on getting deeper and deeper. In this book, though the problems are far, far from over, the characters have scored a few key victories and everyone seems to be ready to continue the fight more positively and proactively. It's like the gloves are off and the growing anti-Saghred and anti-Nukpana force is ready to not only up the game a notch, but blow their opponent right off the board.
Personally, I can't wait to see what comes next.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
Once a Seeker with modest magical talents, Raine Benares is now bonded to a soul-sucking rock known as the Saghred and got both a major power upgrade and a plethora of people out to kill her so they can steal it and use it for their own nefarious purposes. Fortunately, Raine's not dead yet, and neither are the people she cares most about. For Raine, that constitutes a good day. Unfortunately for Raine, that's all that constitutes a good day in the continuing nightmare that is life as the Saghred's bondservant.
Now she's racing around trying to catch the twisted, evil souls that slipped from the Saghred when the Demon Queen managed to open it. The megalomaniacal psychopath Sarad Nukpana is one of those souls, but Raine has a deep, sinking, terrifying suspicion that she won't have to hunt down that monster. She has no doubt he'll be coming after her. When the dessicated corpse of a high ranking elven general is literally dropped at her feet with a message for her from Nukpana, her suspicions are confirmed. And worse, he says everyone she holds dear is next.
Another fun day in the life of Raine Benares.
Bewitched & Betrayed is just as action-packed, just as teeming with lovable characters, just as wild a roller coaster ride as the first three books in the series. Told in first person from Raine's POV, she is the core of the series and I adore her. She's such a feisty, stubborn elf, and despite odds most surely stacked against her, manages to grit her teeth (mostly to stop the screaming), lock her legs (uh...mostly to keep herself from fleeing in terror), and fight back with everything she is and ever will be. The narrative, her internal monologue, is rife with sardonic and self-effacing humor that makes her ever so sympathetic and lends a lot of humor to a seemingly never-ending series of increasingly deadly situations.
She's not fighting alone, though. She's got the elven force of light that is Paladin Mychael Eiliesor, and the seductive darkness that is goblin Tamnais Nathrach, as well as her cousin Phaelan and her bodyguard Vegard, among others. In fact, the longer she's chained to the Saghred, the more genuine friends and allies she realizes she has. That's probably a good thing, because the number of her enemies sure aren't getting any smaller. As secondary and ancillary characters, they're all richly drawn and nicely fleshed out. Even the horrifying ones.
And holy cow, Mychael was given a bunch of fantastic character development in this book. He was included in more of the story than he's been in the previous books (more Mychael is always a good thing) and we get to find out a little about his past. I loved every minute of it. Not to mention how much I adored the resolution of the romantic triangle between Raine, Mychael, and Tam. My hat is off to Lisa Shearin for that, because not only was it finally resolved and done without a lot of needless angst, it was also done with aplomb and in the big picture, genuinely furthered the overall series arc. I love it when that happens.
There are still a few issues, and they've been issues throughout the series. This book suffered a similar excess of exposition as other books in the series. In fact, because both the episodic book plot threads and the overall series arc plot threads are so complex and layered, with each book Raine's "synopsis" segments get longer and longer. Because I've read each book in the series, those sections seriously bog down the pacing, even as they allow for new readers to catch up with what's been going on so far. I'd love to see a far more condensed version of the exposition in future books.
One of the biggest issues I had with the previous books was far less prevalent in this book. Repetition in the narrative has been a complaint of mine since the first book in the series, Magic Lost, Trouble Found. Information and phrasing in the narrative was oft repeated throughout the books. There's still some of that, but to a far lesser degree. And while Raine of course mentions being a Benares and all that implies more than once, it seemed much less frequent than in previous books.
A few other big positives for this book were the resolution of a few of the dangling plot threads, the introduction of a couple of intriguing new characters, and some absolutely delicious series arc plot progression. I felt at the end of the last book, The Trouble with Demons, that Raine and Co. weren't any better off at the end of it than they were at the beginning, and the problems just kept on getting deeper and deeper. In this book, though the problems are far, far from over, the characters have scored a few key victories and everyone seems to be ready to continue the fight more positively and proactively. It's like the gloves are off and the growing anti-Saghred and anti-Nukpana force is ready to not only up the game a notch, but blow their opponent right off the board.
Personally, I can't wait to see what comes next.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
June 11, 2018
Very good! Lots of action! I enjoyed it.
May 25, 2010
Completely "UNPUTDOWNABLE!" Just like the first three!
Okay, you've read my reviews before. I usually give a brief detail of what happens in the book, then my thoughts on it. This review is going to be all over the place, LOL! Fair warning.
**Spoiler Alert!** If you plan on reading the novel and don't want to know what happens, do not read past this point!
Lisa Shearin has done it again!!! This is only the fourth book she has published, and already, with her style, she resembles a veteran; an author who's been around for years! She's that good!
Raine's back, with our entire favourite cast of characters.
The spectres are running rampid all over Mid, including Sarad Nukpana. Raine is now after them, to put them back where they belong. The opening line is, and I quote: "I was being chased by a pissed-off guy with a knife. A really big knife." My first thought: And we're off!!!
Then, not halfway down the page, I cracked up when I read: "And believe me, I got to see enough manhoods and fleeing pasty white posteriors to last me a lifetime."
When a shriveled up body is dumped at her feet by none other than Sarad Nukpana, she's warned that the whole situation is about to get worse. Sarad is going to "eat" as much power as he can, and will eventually find a way to control her and the Saghred (stone). And he's going to go after everyone she cares about and everyone she loves before he gets to her.
Raine will stop at nothing to find him.
We see another side of Mychael; now we learn where he came from before he became Paladin. Their umi'atsu bond grows stronger, and both finally admit to being in love with each other.
Talon gets himself into even more trouble - on a couple of separate occasions. Piaras keeps himself out of most of it, until he goes after Talon. And when Tam learns of where his son has gone, he takes off before anyone can stop him. But of course, Tam is captured by Sarad, and Raine has to make the hardest decision she's made so far.
The whole scenario gets more and more complicated as the book moves along, and the deeper Raine gets, the more you're rooting for the home team. A war is averted, for the most part, although the threat is still there. A duke is thought dead, but isn't. Imala Kalis, head of Goblin Intelligence (with the cute dimples), needs Tam's help. Imala has a secret of her own as well.
And if I keep going, you'll end up getting more of the story than I intend to give you. This book has great characters that you love to love and hate with a passion. This book is non-stop intrigue and action, from beginning to end. Figths (magical and non), arguments, truths and lies, conniving deceptions and set-ups, power-hungry elves, mages and goblins, and love-making that was 3 books in the making.
This book, this series, is one of the top fantasy series I recommend to anyone who asks me. Why? Because it deserves the recognition. Run, don't walk, and get your copy today! What are you waiting for?
Okay, you've read my reviews before. I usually give a brief detail of what happens in the book, then my thoughts on it. This review is going to be all over the place, LOL! Fair warning.
**Spoiler Alert!** If you plan on reading the novel and don't want to know what happens, do not read past this point!
Lisa Shearin has done it again!!! This is only the fourth book she has published, and already, with her style, she resembles a veteran; an author who's been around for years! She's that good!
Raine's back, with our entire favourite cast of characters.
The spectres are running rampid all over Mid, including Sarad Nukpana. Raine is now after them, to put them back where they belong. The opening line is, and I quote: "I was being chased by a pissed-off guy with a knife. A really big knife." My first thought: And we're off!!!
Then, not halfway down the page, I cracked up when I read: "And believe me, I got to see enough manhoods and fleeing pasty white posteriors to last me a lifetime."
When a shriveled up body is dumped at her feet by none other than Sarad Nukpana, she's warned that the whole situation is about to get worse. Sarad is going to "eat" as much power as he can, and will eventually find a way to control her and the Saghred (stone). And he's going to go after everyone she cares about and everyone she loves before he gets to her.
Raine will stop at nothing to find him.
We see another side of Mychael; now we learn where he came from before he became Paladin. Their umi'atsu bond grows stronger, and both finally admit to being in love with each other.
Talon gets himself into even more trouble - on a couple of separate occasions. Piaras keeps himself out of most of it, until he goes after Talon. And when Tam learns of where his son has gone, he takes off before anyone can stop him. But of course, Tam is captured by Sarad, and Raine has to make the hardest decision she's made so far.
The whole scenario gets more and more complicated as the book moves along, and the deeper Raine gets, the more you're rooting for the home team. A war is averted, for the most part, although the threat is still there. A duke is thought dead, but isn't. Imala Kalis, head of Goblin Intelligence (with the cute dimples), needs Tam's help. Imala has a secret of her own as well.
And if I keep going, you'll end up getting more of the story than I intend to give you. This book has great characters that you love to love and hate with a passion. This book is non-stop intrigue and action, from beginning to end. Figths (magical and non), arguments, truths and lies, conniving deceptions and set-ups, power-hungry elves, mages and goblins, and love-making that was 3 books in the making.
This book, this series, is one of the top fantasy series I recommend to anyone who asks me. Why? Because it deserves the recognition. Run, don't walk, and get your copy today! What are you waiting for?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2011
There are a few things in the writing style that continued to irritate me. There is a continual repeating of events and information from the previous books. A little bit to help readers remember or get back up to speed is okay, but there was so much it really broke up the flow of the story. I am not finding the later stories as funny as the first because all the jokes are feeling the same. There is only so much mileage to be gotten from jokes about Raine's disreputable family or the character's bad luck. Perhaps because of this repeating the stories are beginning to feel the same. I really have picked up the past two stories because of Tam, Mychael, and Raine's love triangle and not because of the plot which is not all that engrossing. I am quite tired of Sarad Nakpana and some of the other villians. Can't we defeat these guys already?[return][return]On the upside we get a definite resolution to the love triangle and hints of a romance for the one who didn't get the girl. We get a glimpse of Mychael's past that was utterly addicting. We also get to meet a new lady goblin with a very intriguing personality. So it did have redeeming characteristics.
June 12, 2022
I still think Tam gets the short end of the stick in this one, but hey, I like bad boys.
October 11, 2020
Wow wow wow! I thought I loved the book before this but this one was even better. We got much needed movement in the love department and I 100% approve of how things went, yum. Beyond that important life detail, we got so much more in the story department.
"The only thing I hated more than a bully was asking someone to protect me from one. I took on my own bullies, thank you very much - even if they were thousand-year old, obscenely powerful psychotic megalomaniacs"
The soul-sucking rock is hungry and not impressed with its bond servant but it knows there are worse fates so occasionally it does something Raine actually wants it to. Mostly this book is about following the terrifying trail of Sarad and the bodies he leaves behind.
"You find things that shouldn't be found, and have apparently taken up chasing specter-possessed naked men through bordellos as a hobby. Since when do you play it safe?"
Bewitched and Betrayed also gives us a lot more character development about Michael and I quite enjoyed where his story has been headed. We have a female goblin of the secret service introduced in this book as well, Imala and she adds a great deal to the story while also adding another female presence for Raine which was appreciated. Tam is his usual self and there are some interesting bits with him as well of course. Piaras doesn't have quite the same size roll as usual in this one but his parts are vital and I love that kid. Talon needs a good smack but he does mean well. And of course, I cannot forget the pirates. Uncle Ryn and Phaelen are always amazing characters and that didn't change here. I love when Phaelen gets in on the action he never ceases to entertain
"Goblins liked the dark, so you had to wonder what, if anything, they considered spooky. I knew that four disembodied lightglobes floating down a dark, deserted tunnel would do it for me."
Loved the book and this series in general. Will be reading the next soon
"The only thing I hated more than a bully was asking someone to protect me from one. I took on my own bullies, thank you very much - even if they were thousand-year old, obscenely powerful psychotic megalomaniacs"
The soul-sucking rock is hungry and not impressed with its bond servant but it knows there are worse fates so occasionally it does something Raine actually wants it to. Mostly this book is about following the terrifying trail of Sarad and the bodies he leaves behind.
"You find things that shouldn't be found, and have apparently taken up chasing specter-possessed naked men through bordellos as a hobby. Since when do you play it safe?"
Bewitched and Betrayed also gives us a lot more character development about Michael and I quite enjoyed where his story has been headed. We have a female goblin of the secret service introduced in this book as well, Imala and she adds a great deal to the story while also adding another female presence for Raine which was appreciated. Tam is his usual self and there are some interesting bits with him as well of course. Piaras doesn't have quite the same size roll as usual in this one but his parts are vital and I love that kid. Talon needs a good smack but he does mean well. And of course, I cannot forget the pirates. Uncle Ryn and Phaelen are always amazing characters and that didn't change here. I love when Phaelen gets in on the action he never ceases to entertain
"Goblins liked the dark, so you had to wonder what, if anything, they considered spooky. I knew that four disembodied lightglobes floating down a dark, deserted tunnel would do it for me."
Loved the book and this series in general. Will be reading the next soon
August 4, 2012
Ok, I haven't finished this yet but I am totally going to air my frustrations in case I later forget something. I want to start by saying I loved, I mean really loved the first book in this series. It was so promising. I loved the characters and the world building, the wit and just everything about it. It was fast paced and engaging. Each book since then has been progressively less so. So here is a list of what is pissing me off.
June 3, 2011
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Genre: Fiction/Romance
Bewitched & Betrayed, by Lisa Shearin, is the fourth book in the Raine Benares series. This story continues Raines escapades as the bond servant to the Saghred, and a target for everyone, Elves and Goblins alike, who want to use her and her link to the soul sucking stone with unlimited powers.
Raine is a seeker who finds lost things and missing people, usually alive. She was born with moderate mage powers to begin, but now with the Saghred as her constant companion, her powers have grown to the point of making her one of the most powerful mages on the Isle of Mid. She has killed demons, and now can even use glamor to hide who she really is. She is reluctant and hesitant to use those powers, knowing that if she does, she will lose her own soul in the process. She also has Reapers to worry about and who sense that she has the powerful Saghred’s souls within her reach and continue to attack her at each and every opportunity.
Raine is a character that can find trouble just by breathing. She is hunting the devious goblin Sarad Nukpana, who is the blackest of the dark mages, and escaped along with five other specter’s from the Saghred; one of them being her 900 year old father Eamiel Anguis who has taken up the body of a fallen Guardian. She seems to rush into trouble, even when her bodyguard Vegard tells her not to leave without him.
She also has to worry about Elves with an agenda like Taltek Balmorlon who is an inquisitor for the elven intelligence and has already attempted to take Raine into custody, while kidnapping Piaras Rivalin who is 18 years of age and a powerful spellsinger in his own right. Add in Carnades Silvanus, Elven Mage and Member of the Seat of Twelve, who believes Raine, Mychael and Tam should be captured and killed. Taltek and Carnades hate the goblins and want to use the Saghred to exact revenge on them and start a war that is close to becoming reality with both sides aiming for the same thing.
Two of the most likeable and more interesting new characters added to the storyline are Vidor Kalta, who is a nachtmagus (necromancer) who can control the souls of the dead, preventing it from running away from the body. Vidor plays an important part in several areas of the story, including saving Tamnais Nathrach’s life.
The other is Imala Kalis, a goblin and head of the goblin secret service. Her participation in this story was one of the bright spots and funniest as well. She is not only feisty, but has an agenda of her own that just happens to coincide with Raine’s. I absolutely loved when she was discussing how she beheaded Rudra Muralin, former bond servant to the Saghred and Goblin Ambassador. Rudra had that, and more coming to him for his evil that just wouldn’t go away. I really would love to see Imala take down Sarad as well. Imala and Tamnais Nathrach have a history, and it was interesting to learn how she actually helped him in ways he never thought he would care about after leaving the Goblin court.
The main storyline is the retrieval of the spectors who escaped from the Saghred, as well as the confrontation between Raine and Sarad which ends up breaking the umi’atsu bond between Tam, and Raine. Some surprises await readers as well as we finally get to know the truth behind Duke Markus Sevelin, and who he is really working for, and it makes a lot of sense when it finally comes out.
Then, of course, you have the Mychael and Raine moment that has been coming since the first book. I have to say, thank you to the writer for finally breaking the three-way relationship triangle she had put in place. Mychael and Raine are actually good together, and Mychael actually breaks down and says the words I love you first. Whoa! Mychael also has another secret that he finally shares with Raine as well, and it is a doozy. I love the fact that Mychael’s background was expounded upon so that we get a real look into who he really is.
One of the more likable aspects of this story is Raine’s family. Commodore Ryn Benares and Captain Phaeln, uncle and cousin respectfully, play important parts in Raine’s ability to say one step ahead of those who want her dead. We are introduced to another shadier member of the family who also happens to be a banker as well. Another positive is the fact that Raine refrained from saying that she was a Benares 50 times in the story.
There are some unresolved story lines that need to be sewn up. Sarad, of course, escapes and of course, grows even more powerful than he already was. In reality, nothing really has changed for Raine and her supporters except for now she knows who her allies and enemies are and it may be possible to stop Sarad before the Goblins and Elves go to war.
I love this sort of fantasy and especially the world building. I love elves and goblins and dragons, and even the Reapers and Demons that make an entrance into the story. The reapers themselves are the most interesting since they are after the souls within the Saghred, which is attached in part, to Raine.
I’m looking forward to reading Con & Conjure (March 29th 2011) when it becomes available to me. I would love to purchase it, but paying bills and putting food on my table is a wee bit more important at the moment. I also learned that book number 6, All Spell Breaks Loose, will be released next year (2012).
Genre: Fiction/Romance
Bewitched & Betrayed, by Lisa Shearin, is the fourth book in the Raine Benares series. This story continues Raines escapades as the bond servant to the Saghred, and a target for everyone, Elves and Goblins alike, who want to use her and her link to the soul sucking stone with unlimited powers.
Raine is a seeker who finds lost things and missing people, usually alive. She was born with moderate mage powers to begin, but now with the Saghred as her constant companion, her powers have grown to the point of making her one of the most powerful mages on the Isle of Mid. She has killed demons, and now can even use glamor to hide who she really is. She is reluctant and hesitant to use those powers, knowing that if she does, she will lose her own soul in the process. She also has Reapers to worry about and who sense that she has the powerful Saghred’s souls within her reach and continue to attack her at each and every opportunity.
Raine is a character that can find trouble just by breathing. She is hunting the devious goblin Sarad Nukpana, who is the blackest of the dark mages, and escaped along with five other specter’s from the Saghred; one of them being her 900 year old father Eamiel Anguis who has taken up the body of a fallen Guardian. She seems to rush into trouble, even when her bodyguard Vegard tells her not to leave without him.
She also has to worry about Elves with an agenda like Taltek Balmorlon who is an inquisitor for the elven intelligence and has already attempted to take Raine into custody, while kidnapping Piaras Rivalin who is 18 years of age and a powerful spellsinger in his own right. Add in Carnades Silvanus, Elven Mage and Member of the Seat of Twelve, who believes Raine, Mychael and Tam should be captured and killed. Taltek and Carnades hate the goblins and want to use the Saghred to exact revenge on them and start a war that is close to becoming reality with both sides aiming for the same thing.
Two of the most likeable and more interesting new characters added to the storyline are Vidor Kalta, who is a nachtmagus (necromancer) who can control the souls of the dead, preventing it from running away from the body. Vidor plays an important part in several areas of the story, including saving Tamnais Nathrach’s life.
The other is Imala Kalis, a goblin and head of the goblin secret service. Her participation in this story was one of the bright spots and funniest as well. She is not only feisty, but has an agenda of her own that just happens to coincide with Raine’s. I absolutely loved when she was discussing how she beheaded Rudra Muralin, former bond servant to the Saghred and Goblin Ambassador. Rudra had that, and more coming to him for his evil that just wouldn’t go away. I really would love to see Imala take down Sarad as well. Imala and Tamnais Nathrach have a history, and it was interesting to learn how she actually helped him in ways he never thought he would care about after leaving the Goblin court.
The main storyline is the retrieval of the spectors who escaped from the Saghred, as well as the confrontation between Raine and Sarad which ends up breaking the umi’atsu bond between Tam, and Raine. Some surprises await readers as well as we finally get to know the truth behind Duke Markus Sevelin, and who he is really working for, and it makes a lot of sense when it finally comes out.
Then, of course, you have the Mychael and Raine moment that has been coming since the first book. I have to say, thank you to the writer for finally breaking the three-way relationship triangle she had put in place. Mychael and Raine are actually good together, and Mychael actually breaks down and says the words I love you first. Whoa! Mychael also has another secret that he finally shares with Raine as well, and it is a doozy. I love the fact that Mychael’s background was expounded upon so that we get a real look into who he really is.
One of the more likable aspects of this story is Raine’s family. Commodore Ryn Benares and Captain Phaeln, uncle and cousin respectfully, play important parts in Raine’s ability to say one step ahead of those who want her dead. We are introduced to another shadier member of the family who also happens to be a banker as well. Another positive is the fact that Raine refrained from saying that she was a Benares 50 times in the story.
There are some unresolved story lines that need to be sewn up. Sarad, of course, escapes and of course, grows even more powerful than he already was. In reality, nothing really has changed for Raine and her supporters except for now she knows who her allies and enemies are and it may be possible to stop Sarad before the Goblins and Elves go to war.
I love this sort of fantasy and especially the world building. I love elves and goblins and dragons, and even the Reapers and Demons that make an entrance into the story. The reapers themselves are the most interesting since they are after the souls within the Saghred, which is attached in part, to Raine.
I’m looking forward to reading Con & Conjure (March 29th 2011) when it becomes available to me. I would love to purchase it, but paying bills and putting food on my table is a wee bit more important at the moment. I also learned that book number 6, All Spell Breaks Loose, will be released next year (2012).
December 13, 2023
This series continues to be entertaining, though I'm not thrilled at the way the romance is going, just as love triangles tend to go. *sigh*
February 16, 2016
Another excellent episode of Raine Benares and friends in an action filled adventure, the fourth story in the series catches up with Raine as she’s trying to recover the souls of several mages that have escaped the Saghred, along with Sarad Nukpana, the most dangerous and evil of them all. His plans are to kill as many powerful elves as possible so he can gain strength and regenerate his body, and then regain control of the Saghred so he can conquer and lay waste to everything and everyone in sight. Of course Raine is going to do everything in her power to prevent his plans, no matter what it takes. I love that Raine is such a strong, resourceful woman, but is not above taking help from her friends and family whenever needed. She’s going to need all the help she can get to stop the evil Sarad Nukpana. This is such a great series, and I can’t wait to read the next book, Con & Conjure.
June 15, 2015
This installment was harder for me to get into. Not sure why, there was lots of action and revelations. Book does end on cliffhanger.
August 29, 2010
Best ending line of a book that I've read in ages: "It's not treason if you win." If that doesn't make you want to read the next book in the series than nothing will. *g*
April 14, 2011
Raiding Darth Em's books again.
September 22, 2017
Soul stealing rocks, seafaring business men and things that go BOOM!
Well to start off with, this is the fourth in the Raine Benares series by Lisa Shearin.
This book starts a few weeks after 'The Trouble with Demons' with Raine hunting down the souls of six evil mages who had the temerity to escape from the Saghred (a soul sucking rock bonded to our Raine), which included her arch-nemesis Sarad Nukpana who's quite pissed off with her!
The first line was a hook, that just kept me reading. Any book that starts with: "I was being chased by a pissed-off naked guy with a knife. A really big knife." is a win!
The troubles just add up, she has an umi'atsu bond with Dark Mage Tam and Guardian Paladin Mychael, which if found out by the council will result in her execution... or theirs, which an elf council member with a taste for self- righteous retribution, power and a belief in elven superiority knows about (cliff-hanger from last book - whats he gonna do? :P ), Tam is framed and falsely imprisoned, The sagred steps up its 'seduction' trying to tempt Raine into using it, the head of the Goblin secret service drops by (with dimples! I loved her character!), Nukpana goes on an elf killing spree with a high ranking elf official next on his to-kill list... And the Reapers are back. In force. They would love to suck the souls out of the saghred (unfortunately through Raine which could cause her soul to go bye bye too). So.. fun times, Death, False imprisonment, Assassins, Political Intrigue, Sneaking and Breaking and Entering, Undercover shenanigans as hired 'hitmen', (low-key) Romance, very powerful (threatened) teenagers causing havoc... (Talon and Piaras of course, who else?) And Seafaring Businessmen. Wouldnt be complete without the Seafaring Businessmen (i.e. Pirates) Oh and BIG EXPLOSIONS!!!
We also finally get the goods from by-the-book Mychael about his past! Very very juicy, intriguing and surprising insights into his character. :)
As to continuing subplots that ran through the other books? We finally get a resolution to the love triangle - Raine Benares, "Tamnais Nathrach, a goblin aristocrat, nightclub owner, and quasi- rehabilitated dark mage" and "Guardian Paladin Mychael Eiliesor, Commander of the Conclave Guardians" as well as being "a master spell-singer, healer, and warrior, lethally skilled in battlefield magic".
The choice, while it felt natural and not forced, would have been disappointing to me (I was rooting for the other guy), but the character she choose had been more fleshed out in this book, so it wasn't all bad (I wasnt disappointed)! :P There also wasn't much angst or drama made about it, so that was good too! Also to the supporters of the 'losing' team, we are promised that he will be taken care of and that his fans will be pleased!
While the last book seemed to just add trouble to Raine (most of which was resolved of course) it didnt really push the story very forward. This one does, and also sets the scene for more Raine Benares related mischief to happen elsewere in this world! (Goblin courts yay!)
All in all? This is a book you shouldn't miss out on, the skill with which these characters are written? You feel like you're right there with them, with plenty of action, lots of wry and witty humour (mostly from Raine!), sexy elves and even sexier fanged goblins (and the snarky sexy pirate cousin), well... you get the gist!
If you haven't given this amazing series a go, well I'd highly recommend giving it a try. You wont be disappointed. :) And I can't wait for the next story!
Well to start off with, this is the fourth in the Raine Benares series by Lisa Shearin.
This book starts a few weeks after 'The Trouble with Demons' with Raine hunting down the souls of six evil mages who had the temerity to escape from the Saghred (a soul sucking rock bonded to our Raine), which included her arch-nemesis Sarad Nukpana who's quite pissed off with her!
The first line was a hook, that just kept me reading. Any book that starts with: "I was being chased by a pissed-off naked guy with a knife. A really big knife." is a win!
The troubles just add up, she has an umi'atsu bond with Dark Mage Tam and Guardian Paladin Mychael, which if found out by the council will result in her execution... or theirs, which an elf council member with a taste for self- righteous retribution, power and a belief in elven superiority knows about (cliff-hanger from last book - whats he gonna do? :P ), Tam is framed and falsely imprisoned, The sagred steps up its 'seduction' trying to tempt Raine into using it, the head of the Goblin secret service drops by (with dimples! I loved her character!), Nukpana goes on an elf killing spree with a high ranking elf official next on his to-kill list... And the Reapers are back. In force. They would love to suck the souls out of the saghred (unfortunately through Raine which could cause her soul to go bye bye too). So.. fun times, Death, False imprisonment, Assassins, Political Intrigue, Sneaking and Breaking and Entering, Undercover shenanigans as hired 'hitmen', (low-key) Romance, very powerful (threatened) teenagers causing havoc... (Talon and Piaras of course, who else?) And Seafaring Businessmen. Wouldnt be complete without the Seafaring Businessmen (i.e. Pirates) Oh and BIG EXPLOSIONS!!!
We also finally get the goods from by-the-book Mychael about his past! Very very juicy, intriguing and surprising insights into his character. :)
As to continuing subplots that ran through the other books? We finally get a resolution to the love triangle - Raine Benares, "Tamnais Nathrach, a goblin aristocrat, nightclub owner, and quasi- rehabilitated dark mage" and "Guardian Paladin Mychael Eiliesor, Commander of the Conclave Guardians" as well as being "a master spell-singer, healer, and warrior, lethally skilled in battlefield magic".
The choice, while it felt natural and not forced, would have been disappointing to me (I was rooting for the other guy), but the character she choose had been more fleshed out in this book, so it wasn't all bad (I wasnt disappointed)! :P There also wasn't much angst or drama made about it, so that was good too! Also to the supporters of the 'losing' team, we are promised that he will be taken care of and that his fans will be pleased!
While the last book seemed to just add trouble to Raine (most of which was resolved of course) it didnt really push the story very forward. This one does, and also sets the scene for more Raine Benares related mischief to happen elsewere in this world! (Goblin courts yay!)
All in all? This is a book you shouldn't miss out on, the skill with which these characters are written? You feel like you're right there with them, with plenty of action, lots of wry and witty humour (mostly from Raine!), sexy elves and even sexier fanged goblins (and the snarky sexy pirate cousin), well... you get the gist!
If you haven't given this amazing series a go, well I'd highly recommend giving it a try. You wont be disappointed. :) And I can't wait for the next story!
November 3, 2012
This book starts a few weeks after the last one left out. Because of the demon queen’s attempt to rescue her husband, some souls escaped from the Saghred, this mighty rock our main protagonist Raine Benares is stuck with. Of course, her arch enemy and serious sadistic black mage Sarad Nukpana is one of the souls who escaped from the Saghred and of course, Raine has to try and find him. Preferably before he finds her. Only trouble is – maybe Nukpana is even more dangerous than expected. Maybe he has found a creepy ritual that will enable him to bring him back to life or else he’s just being even more evil and creepy than usual. In either case, his idea of gifts – as in the sucked dried, leathery smelling husks of dead elven generals – really needs improving.
So Raine has to find a way to find Nukpana who is working on becoming corporeal again – with the help of his uncle, a very dark and cruel nachtmagus, a man who toys with the dead and their souls for fun. Nukpana’s plan is to suck the life, soul and memories out of enough people to make himself corporeal again – and with each kiss of death, he becomes even more powerful. And more difficult to stop.
A couple of new characters really stepped up to the plate this time around and greatly enhanced the reading experience. Imala Kalis, the head of goblin security – as well as the cutest little thing with dimples. She knows Tam from his time at Goblin court and they pretty much rubbed each other the wrong way. So much in fact, that Imala stabbed him at one point. However, she’s back and she’s great! I hope she will be a huge part in the remaining two books – and since the inevitable war between elves and goblins seem to be getting closer and closer, I think she will be a huge part in the attempt to avoid this war.
However, my favorite new character in this book is Nachtmagus Vidor Kalta. He is this seemingly creepy man who works with raising the dead – or so it seems. In reality, he is an extremely clever man who knows his business, has deep respect for the work he does – and isn’t afraid to stand up for what he believes in, which creates one of the best scenes in the book when he actually makes Silvanus the little man in a discussion. Priceless!
I also enjoyed that Mychael got out from his desk and really became part of the action this time around. We get to see Mychael in action, actually in ways we hadn’t expected of our knight in shining armor. Parts of his past is revealed and it’s not exactly the past we expected either. All these things mean that Mychael becomes a more well-rounded character – who even knows his way around a bordello… and isn’t afraid to go under-cover.
Also, we actually finally get the love triangle between Raine, Mychael and Tam resolved. Raine made the choice I had expected – although resulting in a rather bad sex scene that I could have lived without (and I’m a bit sad that it wasn’t better since I wrote in my review of the third book in the series that I genuinely enjoyed it when Lisa Shearin played the sexual innuendo game – maybe it just got too explicit and left no room for the humor that so far has been the best part of every sexually loaded situation). However, the bond between Raine, Mychael and Tam is also changed in this book – no longer a threesome. The way of fixing this was clever and rather unexpected – and this part of the plot gave me a bit of a surprise that I enjoyed and it created some great tensions and gut wrenching moments for Raine (as well as a excellent fundament for the further books in the series).
The issues I have with this book, are the same as I’ve had with every book in the series. There are a lot of recaps of what has happened before and it really gets too repetitive. Also, Raine still keeps mentioning that she’s a Benares and therefore, no good – although one should think that after all what she, her cousin and uncle has been doing to help the Guardians, it should no longer matter to her that some high elves might not like her name – especially since she doesn’t like them. So enough already. The Benares family has proven itself – no reason to keep pretending to believe yourself a lowlife. Also – what’s up with the teeth? Everyone smiling has to bare their teeth or fangs – and I think it has been mentioned in every book that a goblin’s fangs are not just for decorative use. Again – enough! Raine’s way of handling things, her sarcastic thoughts and replies to every situation, sometimes feel very off. Not every situation demands a snarky reply!
When listening to these books, I often get a sense of something not being right. Something happens and I think ‘wait a minute – how can that happen?’ It seems to me that this world and it’s magic as well as the various creatures living in it, are not quite consistent. That small changes are made to both the characters and the laws of magic as it suits the plot. Some of the mages also seem extremely powerful – and there seem to be no drawback to using magic. You can just go on and on, throwing out one powerful spell after another and you don’t get drained. You do when you heal people – but not when using spells. I would have liked to see a more developed magical system (that’s one thing I love about the DragonLance series for instance – that mages constantly have to commit spells to memory to be able to use them).
Also, it does feel like Raine, Mychael and Tam – with the support of Archmagus Justinius – should be making progress with at least some of their enemies, specifically the high elf Silvanus who has been after Raine from when she arrived on Mid. We all know that he’s power hungry, we know he wants to rid himself of both Raine, Tam and Mychael and we know that Justinius knows this as well. With Silvanus’ abilities to lock people up as he sees fit, shouldn’t the other side be able to do something about him too? Like maybe just lock him up for slandering, lying and being deceitful? With the combined resources of Raine, Mychael, Tam and Justinius, they ought to have had time to spend 5 minutes tossing about ideas about how to get rid of him – and then just do it. It’s not believable that these very capable people can’t fix at least him. I get that he may be needed for the plot – but if it isn’t believable that he stays free and in power, Shearin has to find another way to move her plot forward.
We did get rid of one of the main bads – and even though that was solved off-camera, so to speak, it was a nice way to end that part of the plot and it made sense. The plot in this book was moved forward and we’re left with a plan for how to proceed.
I haven’t got anything new to say about the narration.Eileen Stevens does her job well, her voice is the voice of Raine to me, and she adds little touches here and there that adds to the listening experience. I still think some of her male voices sound a bit too alike but overall, it works well.
Now, if you haven’t already read/listened to this book, you might want to stop reading now. There’s going to be a bit of spoilers, I think. One thing I don’t quite get is why can’t they just cut open the Saghred and release the souls and diminish it’s power that way? The bloody rock is the cause of all Raine’s problems and with Nukpana now having a bit of link to it as well – or at least Saghred-enhanced powers like Raine – I see no reason to not just cut up the stone, release the souls – and just make sure there’s Reapers around to eat them. Wouldn’t it make it easier for everyone if the stone was dried out – or am I missing something here? Also, I thought the way the umi’atso bond issue was solved was excellent – however, I can’t stop wondering if the Saghred who created the bond in the first place, can’t just do so again…
If you’ve made it this far, I will end by saying, that overall, I do enjoy these books. They are light and fun fantasy romps which suffers a bit from a not completely developed world and a at times too high-paced plot. However, they are enjoyable and at times hard to put down and works great as light entertainment.
So Raine has to find a way to find Nukpana who is working on becoming corporeal again – with the help of his uncle, a very dark and cruel nachtmagus, a man who toys with the dead and their souls for fun. Nukpana’s plan is to suck the life, soul and memories out of enough people to make himself corporeal again – and with each kiss of death, he becomes even more powerful. And more difficult to stop.
A couple of new characters really stepped up to the plate this time around and greatly enhanced the reading experience. Imala Kalis, the head of goblin security – as well as the cutest little thing with dimples. She knows Tam from his time at Goblin court and they pretty much rubbed each other the wrong way. So much in fact, that Imala stabbed him at one point. However, she’s back and she’s great! I hope she will be a huge part in the remaining two books – and since the inevitable war between elves and goblins seem to be getting closer and closer, I think she will be a huge part in the attempt to avoid this war.
However, my favorite new character in this book is Nachtmagus Vidor Kalta. He is this seemingly creepy man who works with raising the dead – or so it seems. In reality, he is an extremely clever man who knows his business, has deep respect for the work he does – and isn’t afraid to stand up for what he believes in, which creates one of the best scenes in the book when he actually makes Silvanus the little man in a discussion. Priceless!
I also enjoyed that Mychael got out from his desk and really became part of the action this time around. We get to see Mychael in action, actually in ways we hadn’t expected of our knight in shining armor. Parts of his past is revealed and it’s not exactly the past we expected either. All these things mean that Mychael becomes a more well-rounded character – who even knows his way around a bordello… and isn’t afraid to go under-cover.
Also, we actually finally get the love triangle between Raine, Mychael and Tam resolved. Raine made the choice I had expected – although resulting in a rather bad sex scene that I could have lived without (and I’m a bit sad that it wasn’t better since I wrote in my review of the third book in the series that I genuinely enjoyed it when Lisa Shearin played the sexual innuendo game – maybe it just got too explicit and left no room for the humor that so far has been the best part of every sexually loaded situation). However, the bond between Raine, Mychael and Tam is also changed in this book – no longer a threesome. The way of fixing this was clever and rather unexpected – and this part of the plot gave me a bit of a surprise that I enjoyed and it created some great tensions and gut wrenching moments for Raine (as well as a excellent fundament for the further books in the series).
The issues I have with this book, are the same as I’ve had with every book in the series. There are a lot of recaps of what has happened before and it really gets too repetitive. Also, Raine still keeps mentioning that she’s a Benares and therefore, no good – although one should think that after all what she, her cousin and uncle has been doing to help the Guardians, it should no longer matter to her that some high elves might not like her name – especially since she doesn’t like them. So enough already. The Benares family has proven itself – no reason to keep pretending to believe yourself a lowlife. Also – what’s up with the teeth? Everyone smiling has to bare their teeth or fangs – and I think it has been mentioned in every book that a goblin’s fangs are not just for decorative use. Again – enough! Raine’s way of handling things, her sarcastic thoughts and replies to every situation, sometimes feel very off. Not every situation demands a snarky reply!
When listening to these books, I often get a sense of something not being right. Something happens and I think ‘wait a minute – how can that happen?’ It seems to me that this world and it’s magic as well as the various creatures living in it, are not quite consistent. That small changes are made to both the characters and the laws of magic as it suits the plot. Some of the mages also seem extremely powerful – and there seem to be no drawback to using magic. You can just go on and on, throwing out one powerful spell after another and you don’t get drained. You do when you heal people – but not when using spells. I would have liked to see a more developed magical system (that’s one thing I love about the DragonLance series for instance – that mages constantly have to commit spells to memory to be able to use them).
Also, it does feel like Raine, Mychael and Tam – with the support of Archmagus Justinius – should be making progress with at least some of their enemies, specifically the high elf Silvanus who has been after Raine from when she arrived on Mid. We all know that he’s power hungry, we know he wants to rid himself of both Raine, Tam and Mychael and we know that Justinius knows this as well. With Silvanus’ abilities to lock people up as he sees fit, shouldn’t the other side be able to do something about him too? Like maybe just lock him up for slandering, lying and being deceitful? With the combined resources of Raine, Mychael, Tam and Justinius, they ought to have had time to spend 5 minutes tossing about ideas about how to get rid of him – and then just do it. It’s not believable that these very capable people can’t fix at least him. I get that he may be needed for the plot – but if it isn’t believable that he stays free and in power, Shearin has to find another way to move her plot forward.
We did get rid of one of the main bads – and even though that was solved off-camera, so to speak, it was a nice way to end that part of the plot and it made sense. The plot in this book was moved forward and we’re left with a plan for how to proceed.
I haven’t got anything new to say about the narration.Eileen Stevens does her job well, her voice is the voice of Raine to me, and she adds little touches here and there that adds to the listening experience. I still think some of her male voices sound a bit too alike but overall, it works well.
Now, if you haven’t already read/listened to this book, you might want to stop reading now. There’s going to be a bit of spoilers, I think. One thing I don’t quite get is why can’t they just cut open the Saghred and release the souls and diminish it’s power that way? The bloody rock is the cause of all Raine’s problems and with Nukpana now having a bit of link to it as well – or at least Saghred-enhanced powers like Raine – I see no reason to not just cut up the stone, release the souls – and just make sure there’s Reapers around to eat them. Wouldn’t it make it easier for everyone if the stone was dried out – or am I missing something here? Also, I thought the way the umi’atso bond issue was solved was excellent – however, I can’t stop wondering if the Saghred who created the bond in the first place, can’t just do so again…
If you’ve made it this far, I will end by saying, that overall, I do enjoy these books. They are light and fun fantasy romps which suffers a bit from a not completely developed world and a at times too high-paced plot. However, they are enjoyable and at times hard to put down and works great as light entertainment.
August 16, 2018
I've been enjoying this series, but something about it irks me. Our narrator/heroine, Raine Benares, is Special - she has extra-special parents, various extra-special abilities, and hot guys falling over her everywhere she turns. But why does this bother me when a lot of epic fantasies are similar, with Special male leads? I think it's basically the lack of "competition" - Raine is really the only female lead in the books. There are occasional female supporting roles, but they never last more than one book, they are generally not prominent, they are generally very much "supporting" (e.g. they are not the crucial characters involved), and they never present sexual competition for Raine - most of them are significantly older or younger and presented as "wise matriarch" or "helpless young girl." Given that, I really enjoyed Inara's introduction here, but as we stacked up man after man after man - all of the supporting mage roles were men, all of the pirates are men, all of Raine's family are men (we met her uncle, her cousin, and another cousin - and not a single mention of the aunt who presumably produced them all; then there's ). There's one lady assassin () and Inara, and mention of Inara's grandmother; that's pretty much it. In a previous book we met Piaras' girlfriend, a powerful mage student - whose role was , full stop. I think she literally fainted at crucial moments. It just feels like a D&D campaign being run by people who have taken the totally historically-inaccurate assertion that "most women in the middle ages didn't do anything except cook and have babies" to heart.
That said, it's a fun read and it moves along at a good clip, so I'm definitely going to be continuing the series.
That said, it's a fun read and it moves along at a good clip, so I'm definitely going to be continuing the series.
March 28, 2024
Trigger Warnings: mentioned torturing children (mentioned off-hand and not graphic), kidnapping, murder (not graphic), torture (mentioned, not shown), Intent to rape (bad guy says what he's going to do with MFC body, not graphic, doesn't say rape but implies), I think that's it
I like this story and most of the characters, but the MFC (main female character), Raine, really gets under my skin sometimes. She's always presented with the opportunity to kill the bad guy but never does. Book after book the bad guys do things to her and her loved ones and she's always threatening a painful death for them but literally never delivers even a wrist slap. It's irritating. Everyone else always has to do the dirty work. She also keeps saying she wants to kill the rock (that is the source of all of the problems in all these books) but she isn't doing anything to end it. Why not just grab that knife from the last book, call a reaper up, and let it suck it dry? Boom! Problem solved. But alas, where would the drama be if we did that?
As far as the romance goes; everyone will be happy to know she finally makes her choice and goes all the way with the dude. Talk about a freakin slow burn, it took 4 books. I don't see this as a spoiler since you knew it had to happen eventually, plus, I'm not saying who she picked. Was it the bad boy, Tam, or the good guy, Mychael? If you got this far in the books then you would have already seen it coming anyway.
There weren't a lot of triggers in this one, and I was grateful for it. See? You can have a plot, heart-stopping moments, adrenaline, love, and you don't need to throw rape in there!
I like this story and most of the characters, but the MFC (main female character), Raine, really gets under my skin sometimes. She's always presented with the opportunity to kill the bad guy but never does. Book after book the bad guys do things to her and her loved ones and she's always threatening a painful death for them but literally never delivers even a wrist slap. It's irritating. Everyone else always has to do the dirty work. She also keeps saying she wants to kill the rock (that is the source of all of the problems in all these books) but she isn't doing anything to end it. Why not just grab that knife from the last book, call a reaper up, and let it suck it dry? Boom! Problem solved. But alas, where would the drama be if we did that?
As far as the romance goes; everyone will be happy to know she finally makes her choice and goes all the way with the dude. Talk about a freakin slow burn, it took 4 books. I don't see this as a spoiler since you knew it had to happen eventually, plus, I'm not saying who she picked. Was it the bad boy, Tam, or the good guy, Mychael? If you got this far in the books then you would have already seen it coming anyway.
There weren't a lot of triggers in this one, and I was grateful for it. See? You can have a plot, heart-stopping moments, adrenaline, love, and you don't need to throw rape in there!
January 4, 2019
Can I just point out that the same Tam who just nodded at Mychael after finding out Raine and him slept together one time and apparently that meant that she was now with Mychael, is the Tam that kissed the shit out of her before she left for Mid simply because he didn't want her to forget him and had wanted something serious with her. Then he finds out about them sleeping together and he's just like ok Mychael you win she's yours Im out? Hell to the no. Apart from not being in line with his general personality so far, and the fact that Raine had a physical relationship with him for awhile and she still finds him attractive I didn't see the need for her to pick just one. If that was going to happen in the first place what was the point of the whole bond with both of them apart from being a pointless arc that added nothing since things just resolved themselves so easily?
November 8, 2016
I have this as an audiobook. My mp3 player is old and runs out of battery super fast if I skip forward. This means I can't skip over the boring recaps, the copypaste descriptions, copypaste jokes, the really annoying and pointless arguments and the "I'm a Benares..." or "My family...".
Raine is so annoying! She argues about everything! I don't understand what the paladin or Tam sees in her. She is whiny, she is a total buzzkill, she is stupid, she feels guilty about everything and she argues for ages before she does anything.
The world is super weird. They have horses, rapiers, old wooden ships etc. yet Lisa Shearin keeps using words like frat house, dog tags, straw etc. It's odd.
Also I am sick of hearing about the rock and whats with all the magical bonding?
Raine is so annoying! She argues about everything! I don't understand what the paladin or Tam sees in her. She is whiny, she is a total buzzkill, she is stupid, she feels guilty about everything and she argues for ages before she does anything.
The world is super weird. They have horses, rapiers, old wooden ships etc. yet Lisa Shearin keeps using words like frat house, dog tags, straw etc. It's odd.
Also I am sick of hearing about the rock and whats with all the magical bonding?
October 22, 2021
I feel like this book had so many plot point pay offs in it and as a bonus it isn't the end of the series! Yes, you do need to have read the previous books for events to truly make sense. No, it isn't a perfect book but I do still like it. There were some weird, forced character movements and there was a lot of repeating of the same information. I will say that the interesting bits outweighed my irritation. Raine does, finally, make a decision about who she is going to share her heart with. I also feel like this is the first book with links to Ms. Shearin's SPI series which I enjoy as well. Overall a good book and very much worth the read!
May 24, 2025
This is one of my favorite books in the series. There's lots of action, and the stakes are higher than ever. The relationship between Raine, Tam, and Mychael are developed further. I don't like romances, but while there are some romantic scenes, it's not the main focus of the story - instead I found it to enhance what was going on. I also really enjoyed the introduction of the nachtmagus, Vidor Kalta, as well as Imala. Both are likeable and strong characters. I like Raine's humor as well. The only thing I wish was different is that sometimes I feel that we spend a little too much time in Raine's head following her train of thought. But it's a great book and one I keep coming back to.
April 19, 2018
I love the main characters and their interactions, most of the secondary characters are pretty bland, not much character building. I am really tired of the constant recapping of what went on in the previous books AND Raine's invariable internal dialogue about how the Saghred will consume her if she uses it; we got it already. I was glad to finally see some movement on the love triangle and the villain front.
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