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Con & Conjure (Raine Benares #5)
by
Lisa Shearin (Goodreads Author)
Raine Benares is a seeker who finds lost things and people. Ever since the Saghred, a soul-stealing stone that's given her unlimited power, has bonded to her, the goblin king and the elves have wanted to possess its magic themselves. Which means a goblin thief and her ex-fianc -an elven assassin-are after her. To survive, she'll need the help of her notorious criminal fami...more
ebook, 336 pages
Published
March 29th 2011
by Ace Books
(first published February 23rd 2011)
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More fun and high jinks on the Isle of Mid.
Rain Benares continues to have a further adventures involving chaos, murder and plots galore.
A week in her life would entail more excitement than most people could cope with in a life time!
Anyway, we have the return of the 'good' goblin prince ( for that read the goblin prince that doesn't want to exterminate all other life forms - these things are all relative...)
Of course it turns out that there is a price on his head and he is the unfortunate subjec...more
Rain Benares continues to have a further adventures involving chaos, murder and plots galore.
A week in her life would entail more excitement than most people could cope with in a life time!
Anyway, we have the return of the 'good' goblin prince ( for that read the goblin prince that doesn't want to exterminate all other life forms - these things are all relative...)
Of course it turns out that there is a price on his head and he is the unfortunate subjec...more
Caveat: I seldom review books. When I do go public with a review, it will be favorable.
"Danger, danger, danger!"
Danger comes on thick and fast. Raine Benares and her tall, dark, handsome and charmingly corrupt cousin Mago had a most intriguing con on the front burner. I should have liked to see that con play out.
Unfortunately, their cover was blown, if not blown up. Goblin Prince Chigaru sailed into port a few days early, and he is an assassin-magnet. He's also in love (but not with Raine) and i...more
"Danger, danger, danger!"
Danger comes on thick and fast. Raine Benares and her tall, dark, handsome and charmingly corrupt cousin Mago had a most intriguing con on the front burner. I should have liked to see that con play out.
Unfortunately, their cover was blown, if not blown up. Goblin Prince Chigaru sailed into port a few days early, and he is an assassin-magnet. He's also in love (but not with Raine) and i...more
The fifth Raine Benares book continuing her struggles against Saghred, the soul-sucking stome of limitless power that she accidentally bonded with in book one. Sarad Nukpana is still on the loose and Raine is still facing enemies in both the goblin and elf camps not to mention the slimy mage Sylvanus Carnades, but on her side she has semi-reformed dark goblin mage Tam and uber-powerful spell-singing boss of the Conclave Guardians, Mychael, with whom she has bonded in more ways than one.
This pick...more
This pick...more
The novel would’ve been a fine romp, if it wasn’t #5 in the series. And the series is getting tired. The protagonist Raine is the same in this novel as she was in the novel #1. She hasn’t changed a bit, hasn’t become smarter or wise. No development of any kind. She is a spicy elven girl with an attitude, plucky and stubborn and full of good will. She wants to save everyone she loves, but too many bad guys, goblin and elves, are trying to get their hands on her and the rock Saghred she is bonded...more
I have been reading a lot of heavy, "serious" works lately, works that employ a large cast of characters to deal with issues on a big, even epic scale. And while many of these works have been upbeat, some of them have also been "downers." So I thought it was time to read something lighter. Coincidentally, a new Raine Benares book came out in April, and it happened to be sitting on my shelf.
The levity of Lisa Shearin's writing is exactly what I wanted. Con & Conjure definitely has high stakes...more
The levity of Lisa Shearin's writing is exactly what I wanted. Con & Conjure definitely has high stakes...more
Over the last few years I’ve kind of overdosed on paranormal romances and stories, but in spite of my distinct feeling of apathy toward the majority of them now, I still have my favorites. The Raine Benares books are high on that list.
Raine is a Seeker. Throw away your Harry Potter pre-conceived notion of seekers for a moment and bear with me. She is able to touch an object and view that object from the point of view of the person who has handled it or touched it. Person, or persons, I should sa...more
Raine is a Seeker. Throw away your Harry Potter pre-conceived notion of seekers for a moment and bear with me. She is able to touch an object and view that object from the point of view of the person who has handled it or touched it. Person, or persons, I should sa...more
This will be a very short review because I didn't find anything to really critique in this book. As usual Raine can grumble about her situation with that damn rock, but she never crosses the line into whiny and is a very likable heroine. The other characters are also great too, especially her family members. Likewise the author really makes you hate the 'bad guys.' Great plot that keeps me interested 100% of the time- just like all the other books in the series. I don't know how many books are p...more
The latest book from North Carolina native Lisa Shearin, “Con & Conjure,” starts with a bang (literally), and that’s just the beginning of the crazy, whirlwind adventure and mayhem for Raine Benares and friends. Assassination attempts, goblin politics and werecrabs are just a few of the things they have to deal with by the end of the book.
If you’ve never read a book in Shearin’s series, don’t start with this one. Unlike many series, the author (thankfully) doesn’t overly rehash events of her...more
If you’ve never read a book in Shearin’s series, don’t start with this one. Unlike many series, the author (thankfully) doesn’t overly rehash events of her...more
Reviewed By http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blo...
CON & CONJURE Continues right where BEWITCHED & BETRAYED left off. These are books you definitely want to start with the beginning on as the events play off of previous books as well as having new things happening and you might get lost quick. If you like magic, swords and fantasy I would definitely give Lisa Shearin's Raine Benares series a shot.
Raine's adventures in CON & CONJURE starts off with action and ends with action. Lisa d...more
CON & CONJURE Continues right where BEWITCHED & BETRAYED left off. These are books you definitely want to start with the beginning on as the events play off of previous books as well as having new things happening and you might get lost quick. If you like magic, swords and fantasy I would definitely give Lisa Shearin's Raine Benares series a shot.
Raine's adventures in CON & CONJURE starts off with action and ends with action. Lisa d...more
The book starts with Raine still bonded to the soul-stealing rock known as the Saghred. She's trying to run an elaborate con to prevent the elves and goblins from going to war. In the novel we meet a new member of her family of pirates and the assassin who was Raine's ex-fiance'.
The story moves along at a pretty good clip. There's intrigue and action, and the love between Raine and the elf paladin Michael develops nicely. Raine is still a fun character to follow.
*However.* There are two coincide...more
The story moves along at a pretty good clip. There's intrigue and action, and the love between Raine and the elf paladin Michael develops nicely. Raine is still a fun character to follow.
*However.* There are two coincide...more
I'm not sure what it was about this book, but I didn't enjoy it. I didn't even finish it. I have always loved the swash buckling nature of these books, but I feel like Raine hasn't progressed as a character. Her justification for doing things is that "she's a Benares." That's awesome. My family shaped who I am, too. But I don't repeat that to myself constantly while out doing things. Ultimately she should be making choices because they're what she thinks needs to be done, but, that's not her jus...more
Raine Benares is still trying to prevent the Saghred from being captured by the various factions who seek to use it to control the world. The advent of the goblin Prince Chigaru Mal'Salin adds to the mix, particularly when an attempt to assassinate him reveals that Raine's ex-lover, Rache Kai is also in town and has a contract or two for assassination to fulfill. Mychael the Paladin is determined to keep Raine alive and she is being supported by the various members of her family, including Mago...more
I really like this series....but now I've got to wait until next year for the next book??!?!?!?!...c'mon, Lisa....get those fingers flying...take a leave of absence....I'm not sure I can wait that long!
In some ways, this book is like The Empire Strikes Back...not a lot of character development, but things need to be set up....don't want to say too much about the plot, because of "Spoilers, Darling!"
As always, Lisa Shearin writes a fun romantically inclined fantasy. There's probably a little mor...more
In some ways, this book is like The Empire Strikes Back...not a lot of character development, but things need to be set up....don't want to say too much about the plot, because of "Spoilers, Darling!"
As always, Lisa Shearin writes a fun romantically inclined fantasy. There's probably a little mor...more
I liked it, but not as much as the previous books in the series. They're very hit or miss for me.
It's non-stop action, which is good. I hate when books just drag on and nothing happens. I also like that even though this is the fifth book in the series, the author doesn't waste a ton of time with piles of back story.
But I just couldn't really get into the book until about 70% through. Even though the perilous situation that Raine finds herself in changes in each book, it still feels like the sam...more
It's non-stop action, which is good. I hate when books just drag on and nothing happens. I also like that even though this is the fifth book in the series, the author doesn't waste a ton of time with piles of back story.
But I just couldn't really get into the book until about 70% through. Even though the perilous situation that Raine finds herself in changes in each book, it still feels like the sam...more
This was probably my least favorite of the books. I didn't want to give it 3 stars, but I'm not sure it's quite a 4 star book. I'd give it 3 1/2. I got impatient with Raine in this book and didn't like her (or her actions) quite as much. The emotional tension wasn't quite there in this one, now that things are settled with the love interest (trying to avoid spoilers for anyone still catching up) and the cycle of how things happened seemed quite familiar and much like past books. I felt this one...more
I have been entranced by this series from the very beginning, and it just gets better and better!
Raine Benares is having a rough life. She is being chased by goblin kings and elven power brokers. And fighting the powerful Saghred for her life and her sanity. Everyone and everything is out to get her. And it isn't even lunch time yet. It's a good thing she has friends (and family) in low places. Because now Raine is fighting back. When the going gets rough, the rough kick butt!
If you haven't read...more
Raine Benares is having a rough life. She is being chased by goblin kings and elven power brokers. And fighting the powerful Saghred for her life and her sanity. Everyone and everything is out to get her. And it isn't even lunch time yet. It's a good thing she has friends (and family) in low places. Because now Raine is fighting back. When the going gets rough, the rough kick butt!
If you haven't read...more
I'm frustrated by the fact that there's been minimal character growth since the first book - the general conflict appears to be along the line of Raine worries about using the Saghred and turning to the dark side, she gets reassurance that's not happening, she uses the Sagred's power when attacked by enemies, and then we're back to worrying that the Saghred will corrupt her. And yes, we know she's a Benares already and all that entails.
Okay, lack of growth aside aside - it's not all bad. There's...more
Okay, lack of growth aside aside - it's not all bad. There's...more
I was disappointed in this addition to the Raine Benares series. Pretty much every main character kept making ridiculously stupid decisions. Raine in particular falls into a too stupid to live category which is one of my pet peeves. It feels as if despite everything that has happened to her she is not learning anything nor is she showing any character development. Two new characters were introduced but didn't add anything to the story line that existing characters couldn't have accomplished. Ove...more
This was enjoyable but it's not my favourite of the series. As expected, there was a lot of humour and the action was fast-paced but it lacked the tense excitement of the first few. We're introduced to a few more characters but don't expect too much character development for the existing ones.
And Raine was infuriating at times. It's all well and good to be brave and to not want to hide and be protected but there are occasions when she's too headstrong and her foolhardy actions just land her in m...more
And Raine was infuriating at times. It's all well and good to be brave and to not want to hide and be protected but there are occasions when she's too headstrong and her foolhardy actions just land her in m...more
Lisa Shearin didn't disappoint with the 5th book of the series. I enjoyed it just as much as the previous books, if not more. I loved meeting Phaelan's brother. And I was really liking Rache Kai. Could there be more romantic entanglement drama in the future? I LOVE Mychael, but a little tension to keep him on his feet is always good. And I love Vegard too. It's always good to hear his quips and interjections. The character development has something for everyone.
The series, and this book, are ju...more
The series, and this book, are ju...more
I have loved every book in this series and this installment is no different. These books are just so fun and have such fantastic characters that I normally read them in one sitting.
In this book, we are introduced to Raine's cousin Mago. Mago is a banker, super smart, and a bit of a con man. He helps Raine hatch a con to take down some of her enemies, mainly Taltek Balmorian and Silvanus Carnades. Things don't go exactly as planned, but when do they ever with the Benares clan? I would have liked...more
In this book, we are introduced to Raine's cousin Mago. Mago is a banker, super smart, and a bit of a con man. He helps Raine hatch a con to take down some of her enemies, mainly Taltek Balmorian and Silvanus Carnades. Things don't go exactly as planned, but when do they ever with the Benares clan? I would have liked...more
It’s actually really hard to write reviews of this series since they all just seem to blur together. Yes, I know I start listening to the next one as soon as I finish one but they are all so similar that it’s difficult to separate them.
This of course is the Raine Benares series. It consists of six books, taking place over a rather short amount of time. In the first book, Raine helps a friend steal a necklace with a stone. She puts it on – and is instantly bonded with the rock which turns out to...more
This of course is the Raine Benares series. It consists of six books, taking place over a rather short amount of time. In the first book, Raine helps a friend steal a necklace with a stone. She puts it on – and is instantly bonded with the rock which turns out to...more
Another great instalment to the Raine Benares series. Things are kind of going to hell in a hand basket for Raine at the moment. One of the things I love about this series is it's unpredictability. Often, when your hero or heroine gets themselves in a bad situation, you can usually guess how they're going to get out of it. But with Raine, I have no clue. I just can't see it at all. She's not the type of girl that sits around waiting to be rescued, so she normally gets herself out using her wits...more
Jul 02, 2011
Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy,
2011-releases
Rating: 3.0
Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction
*Review*
Con & Conjure is the fifth installment in the Raine Benares series by Lisa Shearin. Raine Benares is a seeker who finds lost things and people. She is also attached pretty much against her will to the evil soul stealing, empire destroying rock called the Saghred. The Saghred has taken her magical abilities from mediocre to monstrous and a person who is now considered a threat. Some say that she has more power than those that are members of the...more
Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction
*Review*
Con & Conjure is the fifth installment in the Raine Benares series by Lisa Shearin. Raine Benares is a seeker who finds lost things and people. She is also attached pretty much against her will to the evil soul stealing, empire destroying rock called the Saghred. The Saghred has taken her magical abilities from mediocre to monstrous and a person who is now considered a threat. Some say that she has more power than those that are members of the...more
As the fifth installment of the Raine Benares series, it is fantastic! Since Raine and the Saghred, a powerful soul-stealing rock, bonded, not only have her powers multiplied but others have noticed it too and are after her for a chance to wield such massive magic and unlimited power. That means trouble is just right around the corner, as usual. In Con & Conjure, a goblin thief and master assassin (aka her ex-fiance) are after her and to survive, Raine and her notorious criminal family have...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Mar 30, 2011
Felicia
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
vaginal-fantasy,
fantasy
Well, I love this series, so I was super psyched to read this one, and it didn't disappoint. I was actually relieved to see less teenagers in this one, there was way more of Raine's other relatives in here, and super great baddies, so it was a nice change of pace. And Mychael was yummy as ever, appreciate the fact that she didn't overdo the romancey things, there was juuuuust enough.
Setup for #6 is really good, I just want some more Tam in the next one and life will be UBER excellent!
Setup for #6 is really good, I just want some more Tam in the next one and life will be UBER excellent!
4 likes · like · see review
view 1 comment
Once again Lisa Shearin presented an awesome book. I love all the characters and the story keeps advancing to whatever final conflict. I can't get enough of Raine. She is a wonderful heroine and I love the way her family supports her no matter what happens in her life. I also love her allies, the goblins and the guardians.
So now I have to wait for the next in the series. Sigh! Will Raine every get rid of the stone or will she end up crazy like the others who possessed the stone?
Sigh, sigh, sigh!...more
So now I have to wait for the next in the series. Sigh! Will Raine every get rid of the stone or will she end up crazy like the others who possessed the stone?
Sigh, sigh, sigh!...more
Apr 05, 2011
Jamie Zalot
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone who reads fiction for fun
This was a great book. Mystery and fantasy mix with magic and elves to make a great big mess. How will Raine get out of it this time? I love a female protagonist who know what she wants and is not afraid to go out and keep up with the men to get it. I also love the idea of a women elven thief. It just seems poetic or something. Any series I've read that has a main character like that I instantly love. A superb book in a wonderful series.
Band 5 der "Raine Benares"-Reihe: Es bleibt spannend, ist wieder mal actionreich und lustig (dafür sorgen dieses Mal Raines beiden Cousins Phaelan und Mago) und wird dieses Mal sehr überraschend. Ich konnte nach diesem Roman nicht sagen, wohin sich die Reihe entwickeln würde - was ich klasse finde, denn nichts ist langweiliger, wenn alles beim Lesen absolut vorhersehbar ist. Punktabzug gibt es von mir nur, weil Piaras (eine meiner Lieblingsfiguren) dieses Mal nicht dabei war.
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