Race of Thieves: An Urban Fantasy Novel

Artifact Hunters, Book 1

By: S M Reine

Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer

Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's Summary

You’d never know that Shatter Cage is a were-squirrel by looking at him. Between fake fire charms and his impenetrable confidence, everyone believes he’s the phoenix he claims to be. 

The lie is a necessary part of his branding. He’s determined to become a Hero, blessed by the Oracles and venerated by legions of followers. For now, he’s just one more thief slinging magical artifacts on the black market, hoping for infamy to strike like lightning. But he’s never going to become canonized if Gutterman, demon and loan shark, gets his pound of flesh from Cage first. 

A job offer from the biggest Hero cult in America lights a path to fame - and enough money to repay Gutterman. Unfortunately, Cage’s ex-girlfriend, Brigid Byrne, wants the job as bad as he does. Whoever steals an artifact named Nábrók will be hired. And Brigid doesn’t mind kidnapping, poisoning, and back-stabbing Cage to win....

The race of thieves is on. And Cage is bent on scoring Nábrók before all his bad decisions catch up with him.

©2018 SM Reine (P)2019 SM Reine

Fantastic world building

Can’t wait for the next book. I found the world building was unique with demons, angels, wizards and vampires. The characters are believable and each has a great “personality” so that you even like the villains. Of course it’s hard to tell the difference between the antiheroes and the villains.

Blurb More Promising than the story

I listened to about half of this and couldn't take it any more. Just not my cup of tea.

The narrator's tendency to end each sentence on a down beat also got to me. I know John Lee does this, but that doesn't mean I enjoy it. Kafer did this less often as the story continued.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Love the originality!

Race of Thieves: An Urban Fantasy Novel
Artifact Hunters, Book 1
By: S M Reine
Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
This world building is awesome! Demons, angels, shape-shifters, and anything else you can think of live among humans. Our main thief is a shape-shifter and lives with a demon that has agoraphobia. The demon also has wizard skills so he helps from home as our main guy steals. He is so good that a niece for the most famous thief asks him to join them. He has to do one job to show he can. Paid of course. But more than him is after the object he is supposed to get. One is his ex-girlfriend. It is a wild ride with suspense, humor, and great imaginative situations! I will definitely want to listen to book 2!
Awesome performance by Jeffrey Kafer of course!

Entertaining

Race of Thieves is a fast paced supernatural story with grit, thievery, back stabbing, action, action, and more action. Oh, & some hot and steamy moments. The characters are interesting, believable, & entertaining. The narrator did a fantastic job! I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Engaging, fast-paced urban fantasy...

Race of Thieves: An Urban Fantasy Novel (Artifact Hunters, Book 1) by S M Reine and narrated by Jeffrey Kafer surprised me- I thought it was going to be the typical urban fantasy fluff, but it turned out to be an engaging, quick listen. Would recommend if you’re looking for something short but fun. 4 ½ stars for story, 5 stars narration.

What’s it about? Cage is an alpha were-squirrel pretending to be a phoenix shifter. He lives with Vex, who is an agoraphobic demon. While trying to sell a jacket Cage stole from an archangel, he is recruited by Silver Claw (a Hero cult) but must win a competition to secure the job- he must find and deliver the death underpants. The only problems with this is he owes money to Gutterman (a nightmare demon & loan shark) and his ex-girlfriend is vying for the job as well. You get humor, demons, sex, lots of action, hellhounds, and more. Cage is a bit full of himself at times, however the rest of his personality and relationship with Vex helps to offset the arrogance. “We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.”

The narrator, Jeffrey Kafer, did a fantastic job on this one. He definitely helped make the book stand out from others in the genre.

Overall I recommend and look forward to book two. I’m new to this author and will definitely try her other books.

Parental guidance/trigger warnings: This is contains mature themes. Swearing, sex (semi-graphic but not a ton), violence, stealing, once the MC yells rape when he is trapped by someone who is hunting him down.

“I was given this book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.”