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katyanaish's review against another edition
4.0
I always love Raine stories, and this was a nice bit of backstory - we've heard about the encounter where Raine met Tam, about 2 years before the events of book 1, but it's nice to see in all it's detail.
I feel like Raine was pushed into a more underpowered state, though, than she actually was in book 1 (before the Saghred). In the opening of that book, when encountering a pack of Khrynsani mages casting a nasty spell, she feels confident enough in her shielding (again, pre-Saghred) - we're told that has always been a particular gift of hers - to shield herself, Phaelan, and her employee. But she chooses to go on the offense instead, and dumps manure on their heads to interrupt their focus.
In this book, Raine doesn't use any magic besides seeking, even in situations where it would really make sense ... We don't even get to see Raine fight. She comes across as pretty incapable, honestly, with Phaelan tagging along like an incapable accessory.
Still, we've heard a lot about how Tam met Raine, and it was nice to see. I just wish they'd been a bit more themselves. No, they aren't badass mages, but they've held their own against badass mages before, and they do it right away in book 1.
*shrug* 3.5 stars
I feel like Raine was pushed into a more underpowered state, though, than she actually was in book 1 (before the Saghred). In the opening of that book, when encountering a pack of Khrynsani mages casting a nasty spell, she feels confident enough in her shielding (again, pre-Saghred) - we're told that has always been a particular gift of hers - to shield herself, Phaelan, and her employee. But she chooses to go on the offense instead, and dumps manure on their heads to interrupt their focus.
In this book, Raine doesn't use any magic besides seeking, even in situations where it would really make sense ...
Spoiler
like say, grabbing the bag he threw, rather than diving into the swamp after it. Seriously, if she can dump a pail of manure onto the heads of mages that are standing across a yard on a balcony, then she has the telekinetic oomph to grab a pack of jewels that the dude just cut off his belt and threw.Still, we've heard a lot about how Tam met Raine, and it was nice to see. I just wish they'd been a bit more themselves. No, they aren't badass mages, but they've held their own against badass mages before, and they do it right away in book 1.
*shrug* 3.5 stars
emtees's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I was recommended this series because I’ve been looking for books that have more of an urban fantasy style but in a more traditional fantasy setting. I decided to start with this novella because it was short, so low commitment. That’s not always the best idea, but in this case I think it was okay. The novella was a good introduction to the characters and setting. The story follows Raine Benares, an elven seeker - basically a sorcerer with the ability to find missing objects and people - as she works a case alongside her pirate cousin and a dark magic wielding goblin casino owner.
On the bad side, there is a lot of cliche here: some very urban-fantasy-boom era tough girl talk (Raine doesn’t seem to have the chip on her shoulder that these characters usually do, but she still talks like she does), lots of people strapping on impractical numbers of weapons, chemistry between the lead and her love interest that doesn’t actually seem to be based on anything. There’s also a lot of telling rather than showing, including a few chapters that were just Raine summarizing what was going on rather than participating in it. And even by the standards of fantasy naming, the place and people names in this series are truly ridiculous, with no discernible pattern to them. The love interest’s name is Tamrais Nathrach. That’s not a name, that’s a random collection of letters.
But the good outweighed the bad for me, at least enough to make me want to read one of the longer books in this series. The world is a cool one - the main setting is a city, Mermeia (sigh), made up of five islands surrounded by deadly swamp. The main species here are humans, elves and goblins (which so far appear to be a silver-skinned race of extremely sexy people.) There’s a lot of different types of sorcery and the government may actually be sorceror-run? Raine comes from a family of criminals, and while she works well with law enforcement, she’s also got a lot of ties to the wrong side of the law and takes a very morally grey view. She has her own code, which mostly involves getting really angry at people who hurt innocents. It’s not original, but it’s still interesting. She also has a cousin, Phaelan, who is like a sibling to her and gets involved in her adventures. Phaelan was my favorite character. He’s a badass pirate who is afraid of sorcerers.
I’ll be picking up the first main book in the series.
On the bad side, there is a lot of cliche here: some very urban-fantasy-boom era tough girl talk (Raine doesn’t seem to have the chip on her shoulder that these characters usually do, but she still talks like she does), lots of people strapping on impractical numbers of weapons, chemistry between the lead and her love interest that doesn’t actually seem to be based on anything. There’s also a lot of telling rather than showing, including a few chapters that were just Raine summarizing what was going on rather than participating in it. And even by the standards of fantasy naming, the place and people names in this series are truly ridiculous, with no discernible pattern to them. The love interest’s name is Tamrais Nathrach. That’s not a name, that’s a random collection of letters.
But the good outweighed the bad for me, at least enough to make me want to read one of the longer books in this series. The world is a cool one - the main setting is a city, Mermeia (sigh), made up of five islands surrounded by deadly swamp. The main species here are humans, elves and goblins (which so far appear to be a silver-skinned race of extremely sexy people.) There’s a lot of different types of sorcery and the government may actually be sorceror-run? Raine comes from a family of criminals, and while she works well with law enforcement, she’s also got a lot of ties to the wrong side of the law and takes a very morally grey view. She has her own code, which mostly involves getting really angry at people who hurt innocents. It’s not original, but it’s still interesting. She also has a cousin, Phaelan, who is like a sibling to her and gets involved in her adventures. Phaelan was my favorite character. He’s a badass pirate who is afraid of sorcerers.
I’ll be picking up the first main book in the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
The main plot involves threat to children.slc333's review
5.0
I loved this because I have been missing Raine & Co and because it was great to get some background to the relationship between Raine & Tam. When we meet them in Magic Lost Trouble Found they have obviously known each other for a while and have a level of trust. It was great to see where it all began. Also Phaelan. Want MORE of these stories. only next time we need the addition of Piaras.
gijanechosen's review against another edition
4.0
This is my type of story. I really am gonna read the series now. I wanted to anyways but this story confirms it.
storiesforhisglory's review against another edition
5.0
Fun read
This is a reread, and I started to listen to it via Audible (excellent narration) and then switched back to my Kindle version. I really enjoy Raine Benares and her sense if doing the right thing. And it was neat to see the beginning where she met Tam.
This is a reread, and I started to listen to it via Audible (excellent narration) and then switched back to my Kindle version. I really enjoy Raine Benares and her sense if doing the right thing. And it was neat to see the beginning where she met Tam.
bookedup83's review
4.0
Fun, fun, fun. I'm a little in love with Phaelan and Tam.
....Okay, a lot in love.
....Okay, a lot in love.
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