Customer Reviews

The Trouble with Demons (Raine Benares)

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A demon out of the toilet. A stone of cataclysmic powers and entirely too much power. A bond between three that goes beyond personal.

Nothing out of the usual, nothing at all. The Trouble with Demons, true to the wonderful books Magic Lost, Trouble Found and Armed and Magical is nonstop spitfire action for every page. The story keeps you turning the pages like there's no tomorrow. Unlike some faster-paced books, the people are completely developed. You still feel close to all of the "good guys" and care about them. And the bad guys are fun to read about.

Newcomers to the series won't be completely lost. There is just enough information in the book that they'll understand everything, but they'll probably miss a couple more subtle things, and won't know as much about all the people. I recommend reading the first two books first.

To everyone who has read the first two books: you won't be disappointed. If anything, the plot and relationships grow even more intricate. Raine will be having her adventures for a while, considering all the trouble she gets into. No matter who your favorite character is, you'll get to see a bunch of them. Phealan only grows more amusing, Talon grows more like his father every day, Piaras grows more noble, and Tam and Mychael, whoever you like best, grow more... interesting. New characters are introduced and I promise, you'll love them too. Especially the demonology professor. Raine takes to her from the start - her robes have slits in them for running (finally a practical person) and carries her own mug for ale, just in case.

With a Hellgate opened and demon pouring out over Mid, it's all Raine and her friends can do to attempt to protect everyone. But the people who opened it lose control, and soon it's not just about stopping the ones who opened it - it's about stopping the Demon Queen from making it (literally) Hell on Earth. As if there weren't enough problems, Raine, Mychael, and Tam are bonded... Not by choice. By magic and the Saghred. While the bond might not be horrible under different circumstances, it's the last thing any of them need. It's against the law, and it's hard for Tam to resist the Saghred's dark magic, as much as he tries. (and all those things aren't even the start of it)

It will be a long wait for Bewitched and Betrayed (Lisa Shearin promises tissues will not be needed, don't worry). Anything, a year, a month, a week would be a long wait. It will probably be out about this time next year, and I can assure you: you'll be on the edge of your seat waiting for it.

Hands down to Lisa Shearin. She is a talented writer, and deserves every round of applause she gets. And she is devoted to her fans. She responds to every blog comment and email. Her site is lisashearin.com

I really enjoyed the first two books in the Raine Benares series. Enough so that I pre-ordered this 3rd volume. While the characters are still engaging and the plot moves along at a fast pace, I have to knock stars off because nothing gets accomplished. At the end of this book I felt that Raine's storyline just had not moved forward enough to be satisfying. (Spoiler: I don't think I want to read another novel of Raine fighting the same villains as the set up for book 4 indicates. Seriously, the author seems to have talent - why so much recycling?)

Raine Benares and her goblin and elf beaux are all strong mages who work in concert to defeat the demons in this fun adventure. Her possible romance with either or both of them add a little thrill. She is an independent and resourceful heroine with a feisty temperament. However, Lisa Shearin uses too many trite phrases too often heard in the average detective novel or action movie. "Signed and sealed." "...over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes." "I am quite capable of doing it myself." "throw it back in your face." "kill or be killed." Almost every page offers another example, so that it detracts from the pleasure of reading the adventure. I'm not sure I want to know what happens in the next book enough to buy it and slog through the stale language.

Other reviewers have given the plot of the story, so I refer you to them if you want to know what the book's about. There are good things about this book: Raine is a fun hero, quick with the quip and a blade. The other characters, new and returning, in the story are well drawn, believable, and fun. Her family in particular are great fun. I've enjoyed that elves aren't always tall, pale, remote creatures, that goblins aren't squat and ugly, and that humans are just another race of sentient beings. There are also not-so-good things about the book. It seems that the plot that carries the series along has stalled. We're still on the island, the archmage is still out of action, the requisite powerful bigot is thus able to persecute Raine, everybody has to bend and break rules to keep her out of confinement, the Saghred is still trouble...and on it goes. The Paladin is not as well developed as other characters, and sometimes his devotion to duty above all except when it comes to Raine is a bit tired. The for-now permanent triangle that's developed with Raine in the middle seems to be more important than the Saghred. Raine also keeps pulling new abilities out of nowhere. It would be more interesting if the Saghred just developed her exisiting abilities to the utmost.

I think the series is at a tipping point here. Hopefully, the troubles in this book are just a misstep and the story can continue with the fun developed to such good effect in the second book. The other option is a fast nosedive. Readers of the Anita Blake series know what I mean. It starts well, with a kick-butt, independent hero, but then it slides down to the point where the romantic relationships that have been enforced by a magical force drive the books, with formulaic danger thrown in to fluff out the book, although Raine's adventures are fortunately less boringly explicit. I'm hoping not to see this. I want to see Raine rid herself of the Saghred and find new and exciting trouble. I'd prefer that her relationships are developed by choice, rather than being dictated by magic. Having three books covering three weeks in Raine's time seems a bit rushed; a breather between books might be nice, as more there would be time for things to progress a bit. I don't think we have to see everything that goes on to have a good series, and I don't think it all has to happen in a month. Otherwise, the series will have many books but not much of Raine's life will be covered.

I loved the first two Raine Benares books. This third is severely lacking in editing. As a member of a crit group myself, I was dying to give crit on the excess verbiage that seems to be okie-dokie if your're on the 3rd book of a series, but woe-betide if you're just trying to get an agent.

I'm afraid that the repeat-repeat-repeat of how hot Raine feels or Mychael and Tam does grow old. Lisa told us MULTIPLE times about the connection between the three. I don't want to give away any plot points, but it's discouraging to have such a poor showing on this third book. I do believe this book could have been about half the length and still had everything essential without the excess junk.

The Trouble with Demons is the third novel in Lisa Shearin's series featuring Elven sorceress and seeker, Raine Benares. Raine's life has been turned upsidedown since she became the unwilling bond-servant to the Saghred, a mysterious, soul-eating rock, that can grant its bearer almost unlimited power, as long as it's kept fed. Now, instead of locating lost, or purloined, items, using her quick wits, modest magical abilities and connections to her extended family of pirates and brigands, she's being pursued by Goblin shamans and Elven intelligence agents, as she struggles to free herself from her unwanted link to the stone, simple contact with which seems to be increasing her magical abilities exponentially. Over last couple of weeks (covered in the previous two books) she's become involved in a power-struggle for the Goblin throne, left her home and travelled to the mage's Conclave on the Isle of Mid, and saved the arch-mage from assassination. Along the way, she's found herself beginning to develop strong feelings for both Tam Nathrach, a Goblin former dark mage and all around bad-boy, and Mycheal Eiliesor, the elven Paladin of the Conclave and the whitest of white knights.

As this book opens, Raine is forced to take time off from seeking to find a way to break her link to the Saghred when demons start appearing all over Mid. It turns out that one of the stone's former bond-servants has opened a Hellgate, attempting to regain his connection to the stone with demonic help. The demons, though, have their own agenda, and Raine, Tam and Mycheal find themselves drawn even closer together as they struggle to close the Gate, and prevent a hellish invasion of Mid.

Shearin writes snappily, and Raine makes a feisty heroine, as quick with a quip as she is with a blade, and she's abley supported by her two potential paramours, and the other minor characters. The plot rattles along at a fair pace and is never less than entertaining, so if you've enjoyed the previous two books, Armed & Magical (Raine Benares, Book 2) and Magic Lost, Trouble Found (Raine Benares, Book 1), you'll certainly enjoy this one, and it's a pleasant enough way to wile away a couple of hours.If I have criticisms, I suppose they are twofold: first, that Raine's world seems to owe rather more to the twentieth century (diplomatic immunity, coeds) than mediaeval times, even allowing for the influence of magic; second, Raine's continued harping on about her family's criminal tendencies is getting a little tiresome now we're into the third book. Neither of these, though, will prevent me from getting volume four, when it's published.

Like the two previous books in this series, Trouble With Demons has a lot of fast paced action and a strong heroine. Although the book only covers a short amount of time, the heroine Raine finds herself in a world of trouble that just keeps getting worse. Unlike some other books where the knight in shining armor rescues the damsel in distress, Raine can handle herself just fine. Although, she does find that a little help now and then is a good thing.

Throughout the book the action is very fast paced, but the many characters are colorful, fairly well developed, and entirely lovable. Raine's relationships with the two love interests (Michael & Tam) gets much more complicated. Even more than the other books, there are a lot of scenes where the Raine, Michael, & Tam interact together which makes for a lot of dramatic tension. If you liked the first two books, you must read this one. There are several major plot developments that I think will have lasting impact on the story of the overall series. For that reason and many more, this book is a definite must read for fantasy adventure enthusiasts!

I fell in love with Lisa Shearin's Raine Benares series at the tail end of last year. Shearin's delightful blend of wry humor, high-speed action, and brief moments of sizzling chemistry make for highly enjoyable reads. The only problem being that they end leaving you thirsty for more. THE TROUBLE WITH DEMONS is the third Raine Benares book and has my favorite cover (and title) so far. This girl looks more like the Raine in my head and the title is certainly...apt. There are demons galore in this one. Demons pint-sized, demons ogre-sized, demons every color of the rainbow, oh my!


Raine is tired. Just last week she and her goblin more-than-friend Tam narrowly managed to foil a slew of elven assassins and now this week the demons are coming out of the woodwork. Turns out a Hell Gate has been opened, a demon queen is in search of her husband's captive soul, and the acting archmagus would love to see Raine take the fall for the entire debacle. Meanwhile, the Saghred still has its hooks in Raine's soul and the wards the Guardians have placed on it seem unable to hold its power in check. And, for better or worse, Raine finds herself drawn inexorably closer to both Tam and Mychael as the three of them are forced to combine their respective powers in order to try to stem the flow of demons and close the Hell Gate for good.

I remain amazed at how much punch Lisa Shearin can pack into such a short period of time. Like its predecessors, this story spans barely a week's time. And somehow at the end you feel like the characters have grown and changed and fulfilled your expectations. I am hoping for a little bit larger chunk of time in the next one, as it just seems like the story has grown too large by now for such short installments. But we'll see. I continue to be very fond of Raine and I love the fact that, though they are polar opposites and disagree vehemently over a girl, Mychael and Tam are friends. They understand and respect each other. Tam particulary is able to see beyond himself to make painful decisions for the greater good. That may be the fact that I Am Team Tam All The Way talking, but I categorically refuse to believe he will have a relapse and/or give in to his dark past. Nope. Not gonna happen, my friends. And while he may have his sights set on Raine, he knows how to be her friend. He's good at that.

I do find myself concerned as to how these three heroes (because that's what they are) are going to maintain the uneasy alliance they've formed as tensions only look to be rising for the foreseeable future. And along with that I worry about the triangle drawing out indefinitely. Triangles start to make me twitchy after three books. So sue me. Interestingly, for an author so good at slam-bang action, Shearin proves herself quite adept at crafting a quiet moment or two between her characters. Moments where the banter stops and the pauses are pregnant. In which you as the reader find yourself just aching for them. I cast my vote for a few more of these. Also, more Talon. The kid is pure awesome and never fails to crack me up. These are good characters. I have such hopes for them.

Great book with wonderful fast-paced action! All the characters and world are fully developed in a no-nonsense direct manner that does not take away from all the adventure and action. There is a smidgen of romance. Okay, a bit more than a smidgen, but the book definitely does not revolve around it. I love the first person dialogue. Especially, all the witty, in her head comments about her famous pirate family. Raine is a lovable, tough, good-natured character, and this series is a highly recommended MUST-READ!

The third Raine Benares book, The Trouble With Demons, is one I've been waiting so long for--and it doesn't disappoint. One of the things I love about this series is that despite the fact that barely two weeks have passed since the first book began, the characters grow and you discover more about them with each book. That's what makes a series great, in my opinion: characters who change, learn, and grow; characters who I have to re-evaluate as time goes by.

This series is fantasy adventure written in a smart comedic style, chok-full of very attractive male characters. One of the cover quotes called Lisa Shearin the Janet Evanovich of fantasy. It's an edge-of-your-seat novel, and definitely worth a read.