Magic Lost, Trouble Found

Raine Benares, Book 1

By: Lisa Shearin

Narrated by: Eileen Stevens

Raine is a sorceress of moderate powers, from an extended family of smugglers and thieves. With a mix of street smarts and magic spells, she can usually take care of herself. But when her friend Quentin, a no-quite-reformed thief, steals and amulet from the home of a powerful necromancer, Raine finds herself wrapped up in more trouble than she cares for. She likes attention as much as the next girl, but having an army of militant goblins hunting her down is not her idea of a good time. The amulet they're after holds limitless power, derived from an ancient, soul-stealing stone. And when Raine takes possession of the item, it takes possession of her.

Now her moderate powers are increasing beyond anything she could imagine - but is the resumé enchancement worth her soul?

©2007 Lisa Shearin (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Lisa Shearin has the potential to become the Janet Evanovich of fantasy. She writes with a fun, unpretentious style, and she has mastered writing with humor.” ( SFF World)

“Edgy and fascinating….This tough and feisty woman kicks butt.” ( Romantic Times)

Totally the wrong person to narrate this book!

There is a flow to a story. This woman does not have any decent grasp on this concept.
The voice is fine. The rythme and flow are terrible. She chops it up in ways that really don't work. And if she messed up the flow of thought and action any more than she does, I would be pushed over the edge into screaming and pulling out my hair out of frustration. I have read these books in print. This recording is terrible. The fragmentation makes the story being read confusing. This is not a confusing text. The flow of the writing is quite natural and engaging, until this woman reads it. Avoid books read by Eileen Stevens.

Worth the listen

My type of book, with the heroine who may be in over her head, will never walk away from doing what is right, even if she expects to die doing it. Her family may be the most notorious pirates around the seas, but she loves them anyway. While searching (which is her talent) and trying to keep her pirate cousin out of trouble she is attached to the most evil magical power. After fighting off those who wish to misuse this stone, and discovering her father used to be the protector of the stone is now vanquished inside the talisman she must go on to find a way to disconnect the stone from her before it eats her soul as well. Loved by both the most black magician around and the strongest white magician around, although neither will admit it, she must continue stumbling her way while trying to remain alive.

Excited about this series

Slow to start, but enjoyed the characters development. Narrator did a great job of putting voice to different characters.

Enjoyable

Where does Magic Lost, Trouble Found rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

A fun and exciting series with a very human heroine. No dark, depressing segments.

Not enough emotional investment from main character

I liked this first book. It seems like an interesting beginning of the story and good amount of action. But somehow I don’t fell like there is a lot of emotions pass through from the main character or any character. Everything is just a bit bland. I’ll listen to the next book but I’m not as thrilled for it as with some other of my favorite series.
Also I like a bit more promise of romance in the first book than what I saw here. There are 2 potential romantic interests and Raine seems to be as okay with one as the other but no enthusiasm either way..