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lynseyisreading's review against another edition
5.0
I think this has to be the best one yet. I really enjoyed the demon storyline and I am really coming to treasure some of the characters in this series and the relationships between them. Especially Raine's relationship to her ward, Piarus, whom she sees as a brother figure, and also her bodyguard, Vegard, who says he'll stop calling her "Ma'am" and call her Raine as she's asked him to the day he no longer admires and respects her. What a sweetie pie!
I think, (and hope) judging by Raine's musings at the very end of this book, that the next instalment might provide answers to the question of who she will choose to be with man-wise (or should that be elf-wise or goblin-wise) between of Tam and Mycheal. As love triangles go, this one isn't overly annoying as she's been too busy kicking butt to mope about it too much thus far, and in fact hasn't given either of them much thought at all. But now I think she realizes it is not something she can ignore forever. Go Team Mycheal!
I think, (and hope) judging by Raine's musings at the very end of this book, that the next instalment might provide answers to the question of who she will choose to be with man-wise (or should that be elf-wise or goblin-wise) between of Tam and Mycheal. As love triangles go, this one isn't overly annoying as she's been too busy kicking butt to mope about it too much thus far, and in fact hasn't given either of them much thought at all. But now I think she realizes it is not something she can ignore forever. Go Team Mycheal!
katyanaish's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series so much, even the love triangle doesn't bother me (and that kind of thing usually makes me nuts). The characters are all so fantastic, and the story so gripping... I can't wait to see what happens next!
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
I do like this light fantasy series, it's fun, and it has a hot goblin. Ok ok, yes I might have a crush on Tam, but he is delicious. Good boy Mychael is just so good and pure, yawn ;)
Anyway. Raine is in trouble as always. Now the demons want the Saghred (the evil stone linked to her). They are running amok on an island filled with tasty students. Not a good things. Get rid of demons, check. Worry about bond with two hot men, check. Stay alive...working on it.
Raine is fun, she has a nice set of side kicks, and I might just start on book 4 at once. Well I will see how long it is and maybe save it or not. It's just, after that I got no more, and after this one I do still want more.
Fun series.
Anyway. Raine is in trouble as always. Now the demons want the Saghred (the evil stone linked to her). They are running amok on an island filled with tasty students. Not a good things. Get rid of demons, check. Worry about bond with two hot men, check. Stay alive...working on it.
Raine is fun, she has a nice set of side kicks, and I might just start on book 4 at once. Well I will see how long it is and maybe save it or not. It's just, after that I got no more, and after this one I do still want more.
Fun series.
claire_loves_books's review against another edition
3.0
This was okay but the series really is starting to feel repetitive- another review really hit it on the head saying it was cut and paste in places. There are multiple paragraphs that are word for word identical across the books! (usually when Raine is describing herself or her family). There are also a lot of recaps of the previous books, Raine's interactions with Tam and Mychael are all fairly similar and the constant references to the Benares family and their saying is annoying - we get it, they're thieves. We've been told 3 times now "If it could be picked up, pried off, or in and way pilfered, my family would make off with it." (I read on an ereader and I did a search- I was going crazy with deja vu, convinced I hadn't read the book but also convinced I had read the words) Word for word the same sentence in the first 3 books of the series, the first two books actually had another 4 identical sentences around that one. I found it really confusing having chunks of identical wording again and again, if kind of blurs it all together a bit.
I also found it annoying how polarised the characters were-they're either on Raine's side or against her, no gray areas.
I also found it annoying how polarised the characters were-they're either on Raine's side or against her, no gray areas.
atinydisaster's review against another edition
3.0
Review originally posted at ReaWrite.com
On a random recommendation I purchased the first four books in this series a few years ago. I read through the entire first two books even though I couldn’t really get into them. They were alright, just never really managed to draw me in. Anyways, as part of Bout of Books I picked up book number three and really enjoyed it. Sometimes sticking with a series pays off. Not usually, but it does happen.
There is a lot of action in this book and Raine wastes absolutely no time before jumping right into things. At the beginning of the book she’s shopping for new clothes and then BAM, demons and the book basically follows things from there. This is one of those books where everything happens in the span of just a few days so there is a lot going on. The characters never get a chance to catch their breath which adds to the urgent feeling of whatever they are trying to accomplish at any given moment.
The storyline and world building are pretty standard for fantasy, but I am still really enjoying how the additions of goblins as a major race. They’re silver, and pretty and more than a little underhanded most of the time. Raine’s goblin love interest Tam is so much fun to read and I would love to see more of his relationship with Talon as the series progresses.
One pet peeve of mine with this book is that there seems to be a lot of repetition and inability to assume readers will remember things on their own. There are way too many references to the Benares family reputation, etc. etc. I did appreciate the occasional reminder about some of the plot points (especially as some of the background characters are hard to keep separate in my mind since they all have standard, unpronounceable fantasy names) but the book might have benefited from a few reminders less… per chapter.
Overall, while I liked this book more than the other books in this series and will even willingly start book four, I’m still not in love with the Raine Benares books. That being said, it’s pretty obvious that there are a lot of people that disagree with me so as usual, check out the second opinions list down below.
On a random recommendation I purchased the first four books in this series a few years ago. I read through the entire first two books even though I couldn’t really get into them. They were alright, just never really managed to draw me in. Anyways, as part of Bout of Books I picked up book number three and really enjoyed it. Sometimes sticking with a series pays off. Not usually, but it does happen.
There is a lot of action in this book and Raine wastes absolutely no time before jumping right into things. At the beginning of the book she’s shopping for new clothes and then BAM, demons and the book basically follows things from there. This is one of those books where everything happens in the span of just a few days so there is a lot going on. The characters never get a chance to catch their breath which adds to the urgent feeling of whatever they are trying to accomplish at any given moment.
The storyline and world building are pretty standard for fantasy, but I am still really enjoying how the additions of goblins as a major race. They’re silver, and pretty and more than a little underhanded most of the time. Raine’s goblin love interest Tam is so much fun to read and I would love to see more of his relationship with Talon as the series progresses.
One pet peeve of mine with this book is that there seems to be a lot of repetition and inability to assume readers will remember things on their own. There are way too many references to the Benares family reputation, etc. etc. I did appreciate the occasional reminder about some of the plot points (especially as some of the background characters are hard to keep separate in my mind since they all have standard, unpronounceable fantasy names) but the book might have benefited from a few reminders less… per chapter.
Overall, while I liked this book more than the other books in this series and will even willingly start book four, I’m still not in love with the Raine Benares books. That being said, it’s pretty obvious that there are a lot of people that disagree with me so as usual, check out the second opinions list down below.
leabookjoy's review against another edition
4.0
An evil stone and two psychotic goblins, it was not enough for Raine. Missing just a demonic queen and a band of deadly dangerous demons that want their dear king back. While the enemies and pitfalls accumulate, Raine will do everything she can to save those she loves ... All resisting the irresistible temptation of absolute power.
A book still good with characters still catchy (I like more and more Vegard, I love the old Justinius and I had a soft spot for Uncle Ryn and Sora =D), a lot of humor (the thing with the virgins was hilarious and when Raine jumped at the demonic queen ... WOW !!) and a plot more complex (many enemies, traitors, political intrigue and questions ... the link between Mychael and her intrigues me a lot =)) ... In short, the winning formula !!
Well, just a little snag: the magical link between Tam, Mychael and Raine. It's a bit like the one in Anita Blake series ... and it was one of the things I didn't like AT ALL !!
In any case, I'm sooo eager to read the next book =)
A book still good with characters still catchy (I like more and more Vegard, I love the old Justinius and I had a soft spot for Uncle Ryn and Sora =D), a lot of humor (the thing with the virgins was hilarious and when Raine jumped at the demonic queen ... WOW !!) and a plot more complex (many enemies, traitors, political intrigue and questions ... the link between Mychael and her intrigues me a lot =)) ... In short, the winning formula !!
Well, just a little snag: the magical link between Tam, Mychael and Raine. It's a bit like the one in Anita Blake series ... and it was one of the things I didn't like AT ALL !!
In any case, I'm sooo eager to read the next book =)
xvicesx's review against another edition
4.0
Have you ever read something, and it's good, but all of a sudden something happens and then you forget to pick it up again for months? This is what happened to me here and it's unfair, because this book is awesome sauce. Maybe I lost a bit of steam knowing where the series is headed as far as the romantic triangle is concerned (I'm rooting for the losing team, it seems).
Anyway, well worth reading, but probably more enjoyable if you like the goody goody guy. That being said, there really isn't all that much romance through the book, if that's what you're looking for. The main of it is the adventure and it's well written adventure while you're at it.
Anyway, well worth reading, but probably more enjoyable if you like the goody goody guy. That being said, there really isn't all that much romance through the book, if that's what you're looking for. The main of it is the adventure and it's well written adventure while you're at it.
rinn4's review against another edition
4.0
Great series. I forgot how good it was. Raine is super cool and all of her side characters are great as well. I love Phaelen, her cousin. He is so funny and such a player. I also just adore Piaris, her brother sorta he is such a great character and is becoming such a large part of the series, that was a great call on the authors part to envolve him more. After this series is done I would recommend her doing one devoted entierly to him because he is soo cool!! Oh and Talon is pretty funny too :)
veldhoenv's review against another edition
4.0
Although I'm enjoying this series, there are a lot of things that really bother me when I'm reading it. Firstly, the number of references Raine makes to her acting a certain way because she is part of the Benares family are getting increasingly annoying. Okay, okay, we get it, the Benares family has a bad-ass reputation, can we move on? Another thing that really aggravates me is the number of times that Raine repeats explanations about things she's done in the previous two books... or even within the same book. The reader should be trusted to remember that kind of thing, especially since these books are not exceedingly long. (At least when compared to a lot of other fantasy books) Lastly, it would be nice if Raine didn't have such a devoted fan-following. It seems like everyone who meets her thinks she's the coolest thing ever, with a few notable exceptions (Silvanus, Rudra) who are on the extreme opposite side of the scale with very little personality except EVIL.
torquenator's review against another edition
4.0
ead series this on a tip from Felicia Day, I enjoyed it. It is a fast paced entertaining fantasy series. Not the epitome of literature but enjoyable entertainment and not too formulaic.