Review of Bewitched and Betrayed | Bewitched & Betrayed (Raine Benares, Book 4)

What a woman, what a woman! | Bewitched & Betrayed (Raine Benares, Book 4) | Lisa Shearin

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	• Bewitched & Betrayed (Raine Benares, Book 4) Lisa Shearin Ace, 2010 - 384 pages average customer review:based on 33 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

I thoroughly enjoyed Betwitched and Betrayed! More more more! ;p

I'd love to write as much as possible, be as descriptive as possible but I don't want to put any spoilers up. For those of you who are new to the Raine Benares series, I say start at the beginning--you'll be so satisfied! The experience of reading the first up to now is very fulfilling. However, it is totatly possible to read this book first of all the others and still gain a deep appreciation for the character, plot and setting developments. This is very much do to Lisa's thrilling style and serious, romantic with quite a bit of comedy tone; as well as her fantastic ability to make the reader feel like they are one of the characters directly experiencing the action, the feelings, and the mystery.
This most recent book clarifies relationships, adds new twists, deepens the villains characters and introduces new magics! I won't say which ones (characters & magics) but the gang has a grand time kicking bad guy butt!

I don't know what the 'offbeat' area means--this series is definitely full of adventure, fun, exciting fight scenes, original dialogue that will make you laugh out loud! I had to pause at some surprises--wow. Just wait till you read it!

I am patiently or not so patiently waiting for the next one! (in the meantime, I've also picked up Devon Monk's "Allie Becksrom's 'Magic' " series and C.E. Murphy's "Joanne Walkingstick" series. Just so you know some background of what I like to read, I enjoy stories by Kim Harrison, Jeanine Frost, Vicki Petterson, Karen Chance, Caitlin Kittredge, Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, Karen Marie Moning, and more. If you've ever read any story by an one of the above mentioned authors I think you will feast on Lisa Shearin's books! I'm finding more authors all the time! Check out this website and see for yourself: [...]

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Review of Bewitched and Betrayed

Finally we get somewhere with Mychael and Tam in this book! Thank you, Lisa, thank you!

One thing I've noticed in reading all four books in this series one after another - I'm a bit tired of hearing what a Benares does. We're fairly smart readers, so my one annoyance is that we don't need to constantly be reminded that Raine is a Benares - after four books... we know who and what a Benares is.

That said this book was full of fun, action and finally some steamy scenes and progression in a totally hot triangle. And.. talk about action starting from the very first page - loved that it opened up in a Bordello.

I was hugely satisfied with the progression of the storyline and will happily look forward to the next book (and thank you for the ending that didn't want to make me hurt something because I couldn't wait!).

Awesome series, great author, great characters and loads of fun.

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What a woman, what a woman!

This is a series that has some "meat" to it.
Raine is once more on the run, trying to keep
from winding up in jail or worse, dead.
Everyone seems to want a piece of her.
In every corner, there is danger.
From goblins, mages, reavers and more.
Fortunately, for Raine, she has plenty of backup.
This includes her family, and of course, Mychael and Tam.
With all their strengths,they have a chance to bring
out the big guns, and get rid of the evil that surrounds the city.
Definately a great urban fantasy.
I can't say enough about this series.
This book has plenty of action, romance and a tad bit of magic.
I will be looking forward to her next book, "Con and Conjure".

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Loved it!

I thought this was the best installment so far. I don't mind the exposition, since I read a LOT--and my memory is not as good as it used to be--it helps me. Raine is a great heroine: brave, caring, strong, playful, funny, yet not afraid to admit her weaknesses. Mychael and Tam both opened up and showed more of themselves in this book, so readers were able to get to know them better. I did appreciate the resolution of the 3-way umi-atsu bond and sexual tension. I am looking forward to the next installment. I only wish she could write them as fast as I can read them!

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Where Did The Fun Go?

I really hate to write this review because I thoroughly enjoyed the first three books in this series. The setting makes use of traditional fantasy elements but the writing style is much more in line with urban fantasy, which makes for an appealing combination. The sizable cast of characters has been interesting and the writing was entertaining and witty. I have many passages highlighted with my Kindle that made me chuckle or laugh out loud.

Then along comes Bewitched & Betrayed which brings all the fun to a screeching halt. I actually struggled to finish reading it. Not only is there too much exposition, especially in the first third or so of the book, but it's exposition at its worst. Some amount is a necessary evil to remind readers of previous events or to get new readers caught up. But it is possible to work that information into a novel without causing undue eye rolling or irritated grumbling on the part of the reader.

Other somewhat related issues also served to bog down the book unnecessarily. There's way, way too much repetition of already stated information. In several cases there are only a few pages in between repetitions. Readers are smart people, just tell us once and we'll remember. Additionally, way too much was way over explained in Raine's thoughts. The same thing applies, trust readers. We catch on pretty quick and don't need every little thing spelled out to the point where we feel like saying, "I get it, get on with it."

With all those elements bogging things down it seems like the wit was simply left out this time for lack of page space. I didn't feel compelled to highlight. I didn't really laugh.

There are some good points in terms of the story arc. Some things were resolved, some things moved forward, some things were set up for the next book. Movement in plotline is always a positive and the book wasn't stagnant in that regard. We learn a lot more about secret plots and machinations, both current and those to come. As in the first three books the characters are very interesting with a wide variety thrown into the mix. The new character introduced, Imala, is intriguing and I'm eager to see how she will factor into things in the future.

If this had been a first book I'd probably have only given it 2 stars. As a book continuing a series I'll rate it a 3. For people reading the series, despite what I've said, I wouldn't recommend skipping this one because too many important plot developments would be missed. I'll still probably read the next one and hope that it is a return to what originally made the series so captivating. But if not then I will have to bid Raine Benares a sad, yet fond, farewell.

Kindle Note: Aside from a few hyphen issues the ebook is well done, with chapter marks showing up on the progress bar.

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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 bonde 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...

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

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