Apr '09 BotM: The Trouble with Demons by Lisa Shearin

[Kathleen]

Please post comments and discussion here for the April '09 Book of the Month:

The Trouble with Demons by Lisa Shearin

[Kathleen]

Just a reminder, the release date for The Trouble with Demons is April 28, 2009.

[Kathleen]

I started The Trouble with Demons last night and love the first three chapters. Imaginative, well-written, great characters. As good as the first two books in this series.

[Kathleen]

Lisa Shearin is well on her way to becoming one of fantasy's most stellar voices. Great doesn't describe how well done I found this book. It you haven't read this book/series because you don't think that elves, goblins, demons, etc., can't seem real, you are missing a delectable, delightful series that will keep you waiting on edge for the next volume in the Raine Benares story. It you want a modern woman who thinks and acts for herself and earns the respect of her male peers--think Raine. If you want noble heroes who don't hesitate to make sacrifices for the good of those weaker than themselves--think Mychael and Tam. If you want young people on the cust of adulthood growing in responsibility and maturity--think Piaras and Talon. If you want to understand family, biological and those we come to think of as family--think Phaelan, Uncle Ryn, Raine, Eamaliel Anguis, and yes, Piaras. You want despicable and evil--Sarad Nukpana and Rudra Muralin. Opportunistic politician-Silvanus Carnades.

Well-plotted, well-written, beyond great characterization, timeless themes, and a hint of romance (who will Raine pick: Mychael or Tam--even I can't decide for whom to root).

I am giving this one five stars.

[Colleen]

I also really like this book. It was the best of the series. I like how each book piggybacks on the other, but what I don't like is that you have to read the whole series to get what is going on. I can't wait to see what happens next.

If I were Raine, I would not know who to pick. Both Mychael and Tam have great and sexy qualities. If it were up to me I would stay "connected" to both LOL

When the fourth book comes out I will defiently be reading it.

I usually perfer stand alone books, but being in this reading group has taught me to really apprecaite an author. Never before have I read back-to-back books by the same author. For the past 3 months I have read back-to-back books by Linnea Sinclair, Amanda Quick, and Lisa Shearin. I have come to look forward to knowing the characters and style of writing. When I get to the third book it is like seeing an old friend.

I want to thank my friends here in Gigi's Company for a pleasure that I did not know about before.

[Gina]

Ah, shucks, Colleen... LOL, Kathleen and I love doing that to people! Ha!

I entirely agree with Kathleen. Shearin is one author that we stumbled upon when her first book came out. I'd posted it as a nomination for a Book of the Month, and both of us were weary of trying an author who'd just published her first book. But it was so well written that we couldn't wait for the next one!

Shearin is an author who takes her time writing her stories, and you can tell. Her character development, the way all of her characters connect together, including the ones you love and the ones you love to hate, the tension, the action, the plot fast-paced and perfectly paced, the suspense... Shearin takes her time and writes it all beautifully. There is no rushing with these books. You sit down to truly enjoy a masterpiece and the next thing you know, hours have gone by and you don't want to put the books down.

The plots keep running through the novels; you anticipate the next book so much. For an author to be able to keep you on pins and needles while waiting for the next book, is truly an author worth remembering.

The characters, good and bad, are so memorable, they stay with you well after finishing the last chapter, keep you wondering what's happening until the next book.

I'm super-glad we stumbled upon Lisa Shearin, and she will grace my bookshelves for a long time to come.

Rating: 5 stars (and wishing I could put more!)

[Kathleen]

Thanks to Gina for the heads up that Bewitched & Betrayed (Raine Benares, Book 4) will be released in MMP April 27, 2010.

[Gina]

I've been reading the snippets I've been getting via my email from her blog and her posts on Yahoo. I can't wait for this one! She's currently working on her rough draft for Con & Conjure.

[Kathleen]

I have completed Bewitched & Betrayed (Raine Benares, Book 4) by Lisa Shearin. Another excellent volume. Glad to see that Raine has finally chosen between Mychael and Tam. Have hopes of a relationship between Tam and Imala in future volumes. Would like to see the saga of the Saghred finally resolved and a new storyline started in this same fantasy world.

[Gina]

Update: I receive posts from Raine's Rangers, which is an online forum through Yahoo!. The manuscript of Book #5, titled Con & Conjure , has just been submitted. The book will be out March 2010. Turns out, Book #6, titled All Spell Breaks Loose , will be the final book of this series. We're told, however, not to fret: Raine and friends will be back in subsequent series'.