For the past few months, we have been including an “On our Radar” section in our weekly stash for books that have caught our eye; books we heard of via other bloggers, directly from publishers, and/or from our regular incursions into the Amazon jungle. This is how the Smugglers’ Radar was born, and because there are far too many books that we want than we can possibly buy or review (what else is new?) we thought we could make it into a weekly feature on its own – this way YOU can tell us which books you have on your radar as well!

On Ana’s Radar:

Coming out in January 2010, this book has been getting all the raves from authors that I LOVE such as Julia Quinn, Sherry Thomas and Joanna Bourne. AND it just got a starred review from Publishers Weekly. I can’t wait!

Jenny Keeble has never let her humble upbringing stop her. She’s made her way in the world as a fortune teller, one who convinces her clients her predictions are correct by telling them what they most want to hear. Business is good . . . until she meets her match in the form of Gareth Carhart, the Marquess of Blakely, a scientist and sworn bachelor.

Broodingly handsome, Gareth is appalled to discover his cousin has fallen under the spell of “Madame Esmerelda,” and he vows to prove her a fraud. But his unexpected attraction to the fiery enchantress defies logic. Jenny disrupts every facet of Gareth’s calculated plan— until he can’t decide whether to ruin her or claim her for his own. Now, as they engage in a passionate battle of wills, two lonely souls must choose between everything they know . . . and the boundless possibilities of love.

I saw this at Lurv a La Mode’s upcoming YA list and it sounds and looks awesome

Wade Jackson has always felt split, his love for playing and writing music competing with his ambition to do well in school. But when his mother dies, this need for order competes with his desire to leave it all behind. What follows is a split in his consciousness that takes him to two very different worlds.
Told in alternating chapters that together form one cohesive story, Split follows both Wades as they pursue what they think is the correct path. One Wade continues working hard in school, pulling all-nighters to write a computer code he believes will save the world. The other Wade pursues the dream of being a dive-bar singer, pulling all-nighters to party, gamble, and live on the edge. But when these two worlds begin to collide, each Wade will need to find a balance between control and abandon, order and chaos, life missed and life lost, in order to save himself.

This one is an anthology and I LOVE the premise:

These 22 all-new tales pay tribute to the true heroes—the people who enable and put up with heroes. From what it’s like to be Hercules’ wife (complete with an appearance by Hercules in drag) to the trials of H.P. Lovecraft’s housekeeper, from the perils of being King Kong’s girlfriend to the downside of dating a shapeshifter, this anthology turns heroism on its head, revealing the behind-the-scenes drama, as opposed to glorious rescues. From the Pied Piper’s power trip to David acting like a giant you-know-what after slaying Goliath, these stories show heroes in all their ignominy and shine a light on the unsung faithful standing in their shadows.

Saw this one at the publisher’s site:

I’m marooned.

Abandoned.

Left to rot in boarding school . . .

Viola doesn’t want to go to boarding school, but somehow she ends up at an all-girls school in South Bend, Indiana, far, far away from her home in Brooklyn, New York. Now Viola is stuck for a whole year in the sherbet-colored sweater capital of the world.

Ick.

There’s no way Viola’s going to survive the year – especially since she has to replace her best friend Andrew with three new roommates who, disturbingly, actually seem to like it there. She resorts to viewing the world (and hiding) behind the lens of her video camera.

Boarding school, though, and her roommates and even the Midwest are nothing like she thought they would be, and soon Viola realizes she may be in for the most incredible year of her life.

But first she has to put the camera down and let the world in.

AND, Julia Quinn’s next book has a title (but not a blurb or a cover) for her next book coming early summer 2010.

Ten Things I Love About You

I am so, so, sooooooooo there!

On Thea’s Radar:

Hey, another apocalyptic YA novel! I’m not predictable…right?

2097 is a transformed world. Thirty years earlier, a mysterious plague wiped out 97 percent of the male population, devastating every world system from governments to sports teams, and causing both universal and unimaginable grief. In the face of such massive despair, women were forced to take over control of the planet–and in doing so they eliminated all of Earth’s most pressing issues. Poverty, crime, warfare, hunger . . . all gone.

But there’s a price to pay for this new “utopia,” which fourteen-year-old Kellen is all too familiar with. Every day, he deals with life as part of a tiny minority that is purposefully kept subservient and small in numbers. His career choices and relationship options are severely limited and controlled. He also lives under the threat of scattered recurrences of the plague, which seem to pop up wherever small pockets of men begin to regroup and grow in numbers.

And then one day, his mother’s boss, an iconic political figure, shows up at his home. Kellen overhears something he shouldn’t–another outbreak seems to be headed for Afterlight, the rural community where his father and a small group of men live separately from the female-dominated society. Along with a few other suspicious events, like the mysterious disappearances of Kellen’s progressive teacher and his Aunt Paige, Kellen is starting to wonder whether the plague recurrences are even accidental. No matter what the truth is, Kellen cares only about one thing–he has to save his father.

Thanks to Alert Nerd buddy Sarah Kuhn for alerting (hoho!) me to this title:

Beth Michaels isn’t sure when it all began, but she’s pretty sure that the pink dots came first. Pink dots everywhere in her vision, clouding the people who stood before her. And then, little movie screens started to play, telling her more than she ever wanted know about their lives. Now, she can’t even eat a hamburger without seeing how the poor cow met his maker. As she approaches her eighteenth birthday, her visions just keep getting worse. And when a little gold envelope shows up proclaiming the words YOU ARE MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE, she starts to do the super-freak. What does all of this mean? It means she’s in for a long senior year.

If you lost someone you loved, what would you pay to bring them back from the dead?

Old Marsh, the gardener at Belerion Hall, warned the Villiers girl about the old ruins along the sea-cliffs. “Never go in, miss. Never say a prayer at its door. If you are angry, do not seek revenge by the Laughing Maiden stone or at the threshold of the Tombs. There be those who listen for oaths and vows….What may be said in innocence becomes flesh and blood in such places.”

She was born Iris Catherine Villiers. She became Isis.

From childhood until her sixteenth year, Iris Villiers wandered the stone-hedged gardens and the steep cliffs along the coast of Cornwall near her ancestral home. Surrounded by the stern judgments of her grandfather-the Gray Minister-and the taunts of her cruel governess, Iris finds solace in her beloved older brother who has always protected her.

But when a tragic accident occurs from the ledge of an open window, Iris discovers that she possesses the ability to speak to the dead…

Be careful what you wish for…it just may find you.

Also, the first chapter of Maria V. Snyder’s upcoming YA novel, Inside Out is now up online! Check it out:

I’m Trella. I’m a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I’ve got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it’s all that dangerous – the only neck I risk is my own. Until I accidently start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution. I should have just said no…

And finally, a new cover from Lisa Shearin, for the latest novel in her ongoing Raine Benares fantasy series:

What about you? Any books you are really looking forward to reading? Do share!

Title: The Trouble With Demons

Author: Lisa Shearin

Genre: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Ace Books
Publication Date: April 2009
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages

Stand Alone or Series: Book 3 in the ongoing Raine Benares series.

Why did I read this book: I’ve read and loved the first two Raine Benares books, and have nothing but love for fantastic author Lisa Shearin (see our Interview with Lisa, or Lisa’s Smugglivus post). Needless to say, The Trouble With Demons was one of my most highly anticipated books of 2009, and I was eager as hell to read more about Raine and that dratted Saghred.

Summary:
My name is Raine Benares. I’m a seeker. People hire me when they need something found. I’m not usually the one being sought. But that all changed when I found the Saghred, a soul-stealing stone of unlimited power — and the bane of my existence. Now mages and madmen have me in their sights, not to mention demons…

But with demons pouring through the Hellgate, Raine can’t afford to be distracted. Turns out, the demons want the key to unlock the Saghred. As a seeker, Raine should be able to find it first. As the axis of light and dark powers, she’s a magical cataclysm waiting to happen…

Review:

Raine, mid-powered (but damned good at her job) Seeker, member of the notorious thief Benares family, and most recent bond servant to the most powerful, soul-sucking stone in existence, has a lot on her plate. For weeks she has tried to rid herself of the Saghred, to no avail. After nearly destroying the Isle of Mid with her Saghred-fueled powers, narrowly escaping deranged Goblins and Elven assassins, Raine now has a little breathing room…or so she thinks. Raine, her roguish cousin Phaelan, and her Guardian bodyguard Vegard are catching a brief respite from the constant threat of death/imprisonment/or worse, when they stumble across a group of bright blue demons. Turns out, some one has opened a Hellgate, and demons are spewing forth with one mission: to control and unlock the Saghred. Unfortunately for Raine, this means her imminent destruction, unless she can find the key to the Saghred before the demons and whoever they are working with do. Throw into the mix endangered minors Piaras & Talon, a newly powerful Carnades Silvanus on a mission to get Raine out of the picture permanently, a confusing (to say the least) love life with the seductive former black mage Tam and Elven Paladin Mychael vying for Raine’s affections, and the Saghred trying to trick her at every turn…and Raine, needless to say, is one very busy woman.

Lisa Shearin writes books jam-packed with action, magic and danger, and The Trouble With Demons is no exception. There is not a dull moment in this novel as Raine takes on demons, goblins, high and mighty elves and even romantic developments in stride. Ms. Shearin excels in her tight, fast plotting – I could not put this book down, and found myself holding my breath with each chapter (while this sounds like a recipe for hyperventilation, I can assure you it was indeed an exhilarating read). I love all of the physical action in these books, as Raine uses her daggers, her magic and even a scene involving hair-pulling girl wrestling to escape death time and time again.

In terms of characters, Raine remains a fabulous heroine: smart-talking, street-savvy, and feisty. Her quippy first person narration, in the style of an Urban Fantasy heroine, is a wonderful contrast to the more traditional sword and sorcery fantasy setting. I never get tired of Raine’s wry humor and her very essence as a Benares, who takes pride in her lineage of thieves and pirates. Other familiar faces are aplenty in The Trouble With Demons – another thing I love about this series is that the cast of characters remains focused, with only a few important additions per book. Phaelan, Raine’s pirate cousin, is charmingly devious in this book as in any other, and he and the stoic Vegard make a wonderful team with Raine. Again we see Piaras and Talon, dangerously powerful adolescent spellsingers, who are coming into their own talents. Raine’s family also plays a huge part in this book, with both the introduction of a new character in Raine’s Uncle, notorious pirate and fiercely protective of his niece, and Raine’s unfortunate father, trapped in the Saghred with other souls. Speaking of, Sarad Nukpana is back with a vengeance in this book, and I loved the creepy interactions between Nukpana, Raine and her father.

Then, of course, there are the boys: Tam, goblin royalty and dark mage; and Mychael, Paladin and white to Tam’s dark. There is a very interesting development in this book for the love triangle which complicates their relationships tenfold. I have to again say that I am firmly on Team Tam, even though I do like Mychael. Tam goes through a lot in this book, grappling with his attraction and emotions for Raine and the dark magic stirring within him that longs for the Saghred’s power. Will he succumb to the darkness? I certainly hope not – but I love that Raine and Mychael are there to help him.

Finally, there are the demons in this book and one more familiar, demented foe from the past…all are worthy villains. The demons in particular are well imagined, with a vicious queen, different colored and shaped creatures, and more. On the “good” side, I love that Ms. Shearin is exploring the fears of Carnades Silvanus (the weasle!) and his hate for Raine simply because she is dangerous. It’s very Harry Potter, think Cornelius Fudge & Dolores Umbridge in book 5.

Overall, I highly enjoyed The Trouble With Demons. My only concern with the book, however, is in terms of plot continuity, especially since all three Raine books take place over the course of a few short weeks. While I love an action fueled book or series for that matter, I can’t help but feel that poor Raine – and those close to her – needs a longer break. It’s kind of like taking all the seasons of 24 and putting them on consecutive days. At this rate, I’m not sure how much more Raine can take, or how much more is plausible to fit into the lives of these stressed out characters without someone going down for the count.

Still, The Trouble With Demons is a fantastic read, and I cannot wait for more Raine!

Notable Quotes/Parts: I absolutely love this scene, and am quoting it again:

Knowledge about demons came in three varieties: legend, rumor, and fact.

Demonologists knew the facts; the rest of us floundered with legends and rumors; none of them were pleasant, and each of them was more gruesome than the one before. The rumor that would probably be making the rounds on campus within the hour—if it wasn’t already—would have nothing to do with fact, and everything to do with horny college students looking for an excuse. Whether demons liking virgins was fact or fiction didn’t matter. I’d be willing to bet that the number of virgins among Mid’s student population was suddenly going to skyrocket. And every last one of those kids would be desperate to lose their apparently forgotten virginity as quickly as possible to ensure protection against the demons. I wondered what new pickup lines they’d be using. Help me; I’m a virgin.

With the impending increase in fake virgins, I was really glad I’d already secured the help of the real thing.

I think.

Piaras still wasn’t happy about his role in our little expedition. And I didn’t think his opinion was going to change anytime soon. Especially since Talon had already heard the one about demons and virgins.

Talon’s grin was full of fang. “Well, I’m safe,” he was telling Piaras. “I’m probably one of the safest people on this island. Hell, I’m probably demon repellant.” His grin broadened. “Are you safe?”

It was obvious that Piaras didn’t want to answer that question. “Not exactly,” he finally said.

“Piaras, either you’re safe or you’re not. There’s no gray area here. Which is it?”

I’d listened long enough. “Everyone is safe. Regardless. The island is crawling with armed Guardians. Everyone will be safe.”

Talon’s grin never wavered. “But are you sure of that?”

“Yes.”

“Absolutely positive?”

I glared at him.

“When there’s a danger, shouldn’t you take every precaution?” he asked innocently, his aqua eyes wide.

I added a growl to go with the glare.

“I’ll be helping Raine,” Piaras said between clenched teeth.

“Helping?”

“Because I’m . . .” Piaras really didn’t want to say the word.
“Not safe?” Talon said helpfully, grinning from ear to pointed ear.

“No, I’m not safe!” Piaras snapped. He turned on me. “Now everyone’s going to know!”

Talon snorted. “Everyone already does.”

Piaras actually snarled at me.

Talon clapped him on the back. “Not a problem. I know some ladies who can get you safe real quick. Though if you’re looking for a freebie, you and Katelyn could help each other out. She’s definitely not safe.”

Piaras blushed scarlet. I smacked Talon in the back of the head.

Topic closed.

Additional Thoughts: A map, a map, my kingdom for a map! The Trouble With Demons features a beautiful shiny new map at the beginning, much to my delight! I love maps, cannot get enough of them, especially in my fantasy novels. I’m so very glad that Lisa Shearin was able to update her map and get it in the book!

Verdict: Raine Benares strikes again! Filled with dazzling magic, dangerous demons, and a full dose of white-knuckle action, The Trouble With Demons is a compulsive, wonderful read. I cannot wait for more from Raine, and from the fabulous Lisa Shearin.

Rating: 7 Very Good

Reading Next: Silent In the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn

Another Laker victory, another Sunday, another stash…

(And yay for the Bulls victory! You know how I feel about Boston.)

Around the Blogosphere:

There’s been an interesting discussion floating around Book Review Land over the past week, concerning authors and the effect author comments may have on facilitating or ‘chilling’ discussion of a book. It all started here with Ana’s review of Peter Brett’s The Painted Man, which in turn inspired Peter to write this post. The exchange spurred Jessica over at Racy Romance Reviews to write the much-talked about article on the effect of author comments, and has since spawned a number of comments and opinions across the web. (Check out Peter Brett’s response, and blogger opinions over with Tia at Fantasy Debut, or James at Speculative Horizons)

While we here at the Book Smugglers love it when authors come by to chat with us and readers in our posts and comments, and firmly believe that anyone – including authors – should be able to participate in discussion, we’re interested to see these other opinions. Where do you, as a reader or author, stand?

Reviewing Reviewers:

Harry, the awesome blogger that runs Temple Library Reviews, has begun a massive undertaking into uncharted new territory. Here’s the rundown:

You can review a whole lot of things with intellectual value, starting from books and then moving to all other forms of fiction, comic books, movies, albums and TV shows. But I have yet to encounter an extensive review of a review blog, so as people say I am moving through uncharted waters. The main point here is that these reviews are not to decide the quality of the blog, but more or less to serve an informative purpose to potential readers [if I do get a sizeable traffic for that matter] and other reviewers as well [which hopefully will pay any kind of attention, while “Reviewer Time” is going].

The first guest, Teresa (aka SQT) of Fantasy and Sci-Fi Lovin’ News and reviews is up today! Of course, yours truly will be guests over for Reviewer Time in the near future, so stay tuned!

This Week On The Book Smugglers:

We have another big week ahead for y’all…

April 28th is a HUGE week for book releases. On Monday, Ana reviews Dayhunter, book 2 in Jocelynn Drake’s Dark Days series. Ana loved Nightwalker; will she love book 2?

On Tuesday, Thea reviews the highly anticipated third book in Lisa Shearin’s Raine Benares series, The Trouble With Demons. Thea is a huge fan of the Raine Benares books, and has much love for Lisa Shearin, so her expectations were running high for this newest Raine adventure…

Wednesday, Ana reviews The Laurentine Spy by Emily Gee. Ana fell in love with this book at first sight of synopsis.

On Thursday, in honor of the release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, you KNEW we were gonna do something, right? We’ll share the origins of our love for Wolvie, along with hopes for the movie, fun linkage, and other X-Men ponderings. We’ll also have a poll and hopefully a review for the film on the weekend too…

Friday, we close out the week with another author talking inspirations and influences, as Julie James comes over with her writerly thoughts.

Phew. Well that’s about it for now! See ya tomorrow, bub.

~ Your Friendly Neighborhood Book Smugglers

Day 15 (11 Days to Smugglivus and counting)

Who: Lisa Shearin, bestselling author of the fantasy adventure series starring the unstoppable Raine Benares and the cause of all her troubles, the dratted stone the Saghred. We loved both of Lisa’s books so much that we asked her for an interview, and of course had to have her over for Smugglivus! Lisa not only is a wonderful author, but she runs a great blog and really makes an effort to connect with her readers–we highly recommend you stop on over to check out her books and her website.

Recent Work: Lisa’s debut novel, Magic Lost, Trouble Found was released in 2007 and made a huge splash with fans of fantasy and romance alike. This year her second Raine Benares novel, Armed & Magical was released and became a national bestseller! You can read our reviews of both books here.

Lisa’s third book, The Trouble With Demons will be released in 2009. For her Smugglivus contribution, Lisa has given us an exclusive snippet from her new book!

Without further ado, please sit back and enjoy this hilarious scene starring Raine, Piaras, and Talon!

__________

Smugglivus Snippet from The Trouble with Demons

Knowledge about demons came in three varieties: legend, rumor, and fact.

Demonologists knew the facts; the rest of us floundered with legends and rumors; none of them were pleasant, and each of them was more gruesome than the one before. The rumor that would probably be making the rounds on campus within the hour—if it wasn’t already—would have nothing to do with fact, and everything to do with horny college students looking for an excuse. Whether demons liking virgins was fact or fiction didn’t matter. I’d be willing to bet that the number of virgins among Mid’s student population was suddenly going to skyrocket. And every last one of those kids would be desperate to lose their apparently forgotten virginity as quickly as possible to ensure protection against the demons. I wondered what new pickup lines they’d be using. Help me; I’m a virgin.

With the impending increase in fake virgins, I was really glad I’d already secured the help of the real thing.

I think.

Piaras still wasn’t happy about his role in our little expedition. And I didn’t think his opinion was going to change anytime soon. Especially since Talon had already heard the one about demons and virgins.

Talon’s grin was full of fang. “Well, I’m safe,” he was telling Piaras. “I’m probably one of the safest people on this island. Hell, I’m probably demon repellant.” His grin broadened. “Are you safe?”

It was obvious that Piaras didn’t want to answer that question. “Not exactly,” he finally said.

“Piaras, either you’re safe or you’re not. There’s no gray area here. Which is it?”

I’d listened long enough. “Everyone is safe. Regardless. The island is crawling with armed Guardians. Everyone will be safe.”

Talon’s grin never wavered. “But are you sure of that?”

“Yes.”

“Absolutely positive?”

I glared at him.

“When there’s a danger, shouldn’t you take every precaution?” he asked innocently, his aqua eyes wide.

I added a growl to go with the glare.

“I’ll be helping Raine,” Piaras said between clenched teeth.

“Helping?”

“Because I’m . . .” Piaras really didn’t want to say the word.

“’Not safe?” Talon said helpfully, grinning from ear to pointed ear.

“No, I’m not safe!” Piaras snapped. He turned on me. “Now everyone’s going to know!”

Talon snorted. “Everyone already does.”

Piaras actually snarled at me.

Talon clapped him on the back. “Not a problem. I know some ladies who can get you safe real quick. Though if you’re looking for a freebie, you and Katelyn could help each other out. She’s definitely not safe.”

Piaras blushed scarlet. I smacked Talon in the back of the head.

Topic closed.

__________

The Trouble With Demons hits stores on April 28, 2009. You can pre-order your copy at Amazon.com now!

And that’s not all! Lisa has graciously provided us with a Raine Benares goodiebag giveaway–ONE lucky winner will receive autographed copies of both Magic Lost, Trouble Found and Armed and Magical, as well as postcards, bookmarks, and magnets of MLTF, A&M, and TTWD.

The contest is open to everyone, and will run until Saturday, December 20 at midnight (Pacific Standard Time). To enter, just leave a comment! And for the heck of it–let us know who your favorite character is, and/or who you’re rooting for: Team Tam, or Team Mychael (or Talon, or Sarad Nukpana, or whoever!)

Recently, I read and reviewed Lisa Shearin’s Raine Benares books: Magic Lost, Trouble Found (book 1) and Armed and Magical (book 2). From the very first page, Raine Benares had me hooked. Both books were so fantastic, that I had to ask Lisa Shearin over for a ‘Chat’, Book Smugglers style!

What’s even better is, Lisa agreed to provide us with a giveaway! For those who are interested, we will be giving away two prizes:

First Prize – Autographed copies of MLTF and A&M

Runner Up – Raine Benares Gear (bookmark, magnet, and postcard)

In order to enter, just leave a comment following this post! The contest will be open until Monday, July 14 at MIDNIGHT (Pacific Standard Time, GMT -8). We will randomly select and announce the winners Monday afternoon. Good luck!

And now, without further ado, we give you our Chat with the wonderful Lisa Shearin!

The Book Smugglers: Could you share with us how you met Raine Benares–and how you were able to get her story written and published?

Lisa:I have two finished manuscripts in my office closet that I consider practice books for what I’m writing now. I started writing those books way back in my freshman year of college. I’d been to the local Waldenbooks looking for something to read, and I couldn’t find anything. My roommate got tired of hearing me complain about not having anything to read and told me I should write my own book. So I did. At that time, I was devouring epic fantasies, so I wrote an epic fantasy in third person with multiple points of view. Over the years after college, I wrote two books of what was supposed to be a fantasy trilogy. When I tried to get it published, everyone told me “No, thank you” or just plain “No.” Thank God. Those books were terrible—and they still are. My husband doesn’t think so; but Derek is the “Most Supportive Author Husband Ever” with good reason. ; )

But even though they were unpublishable, those books were how I learned what worked, and more importantly, what didn’t. At least what didn’t work for me. Once I zeroed in on one main character, writing in first person just felt like the right way to go. Turned out I wasn’t the only one who thought so. Kristin Nelson (now my agent) read my query letter and wanted to see sample pages. She read those and wanted to see the entire manuscript. After she read it, I got what all aspiring authors dream of—The Call. (And yes, getting The Call is just as squeeee inducing as you’ve always imagined.) Kristin wanted to represent me, and I wanted to let her. ; ) It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made; Kristin is a dream agent. She sent Magic Lost, Trouble Found out to about six of the big NY publishing houses to editors who were looking for my kind of book, and in a matter of a few weeks, Anne Sowards at Ace Books (Penguin Group USA) made an offer. Again, I was blessed. I want Anne to be my editor forever. She’s simply marvelous.

The Book Smugglers: In a recent blog post, you’ve shared a beautiful parchment map of Raine’s world, which has been under construction for years now. While both books are focused in Mermeia and its comprising islands, Raine’s world is a lot larger than this one city–and this is something that comes across in the reading as well. Will we get to explore more of Raine’s world, beyond the Isles and Mermeia?

Lisa: Raine’s world is huge, and there’s plenty of material for more stories, and even prequels. And yes, in future books, Raine has to travel. I can’t tell you where she’s going, but I can guarantee that Raine’s fans will love what happens when she gets there.

The Book Smugglers: I love the characters of Raine and Phaelan, and the reactions characters have to the notorious Benares family. Will we be meeting more of the Benares clan of thieves, pirates, smugglers, et al.?

Lisa: You’ll be meeting Phaelan’s dad (and Raine’s uncle), Commodore Ryn Benares in The Trouble With Demons. And Phaelan’s older brother (Mago Benares) plays a decisive role in Bewitched & Betrayed. Since I haven’t started writing Bewitched & Betrayed yet, a few more members of The Family may show up. Who knows? ; )

The Book Smugglers: That dratted stone, the Saghred, and Raine’s binding with it reads like a wonderful throwback to The One Ring to Rule Them All (not to mention all the other brilliant fantasy/romance/suspense-crime elements you have blended in to these books). Can you share a few of your influences in creating Raine’s world?

Lisa: Raine’s adventures came out of my love of genre fiction—fantasy, detective fiction, mysteries, action adventure, romantic comedy, thrillers, and crime capers. I wanted to combine fantasy with the intrigue of the classic detective novel, the suspense of a mystery, the daring of action adventure, and the fun of romantic comedy and crime capers. I wanted to write a roller coaster that you could read. I think it all goes back to my college days and not being able to find a book that combined all of my genre fiction loves. So I wrote the type of books I wanted to read, but couldn’t quite find. Well, that and Raine didn’t give me a choice.

The Book Smugglers: Speaking of genre blending, many readers have applauded the almost ‘urban fantasy’/noir-ish voice Raine narrates the story with, but also the great balance of fantastic elements. As a lot of readers are finicky about point of view (especially in the traditional “fantasy” genre sensibility), what made you decide to write these books from Raine’s perspective?

Lisa: Mixing contemporary sensibilities with traditional fantasy was a hard line to walk. I resisted doing it for as long as I could, but I finally gave in. But I figured elves and goblins don’t really exist, so who’s to say how they speak or don’t speak? Raine’s voice just wouldn’t be forced into traditional “fantasy speak,” and third-person was out of the question—Raine let me know that in no uncertain terms from day one. Once I started writing in first-person, I immediately found her voice, and I really knew I was on to something when my other characters started coming out of the woodwork as if they heard their cue to come on stage.

The Book Smugglers: On breaking with conventions–sexy Elves are a standby. We’ve had our share of pretty Legolases, but never before have I seen a goblin portrayed as sexy (as a race of magical creatures, they get the short, hairy, drooly end of the stick on a regular basis)! What inspired you to re-invent Goblins as sexy denizens of the night?

Lisa: Because Tam told me to. ; ) When Tam arrived on the character scene, he came complete with emotional baggage and a past he wanted to keep hidden. He was the new bad boy businessman in town—and he was a goblin. Turning him into someone who would make Raine all hot & bothered was a natural progression. I asked myself why couldn’t goblins be gorgeous? Why couldn’t they be tall, lean, silvery skinned, and wicked sexy? And while I was at it, I thought fangs and long black hair would be a nice touch. (Heck, they don’t call it “fantasy” for nothing.) My goblins are just your basic dark-eyed, smooth-talking, dangerous bad boys who you probably wouldn’t take home to meet the parents.

The Book Smugglers: It’s unfair, but I gotta ask–Are you a Mychael or a Tam kind of gal? See, I’m good–not asking who Raine will end up with, if either of ‘em…although please don’t hesitate to spill if you feel the urge

Lisa: I’m both a Mychael and a Tam kind of gal. There’s the steadfast, noble (but really sexy) hero who is good for Raine; and then there’s the mysterious bad boy with the shadowy past—what girl can resist that? It’s difficult to choose, which is why Raine is having such a tough time of it—and it’s not going to get any easier for her. ; )

The Book Smugglers: According to your bio, you are an avid fencer and in your spare time you love to sing with a choir–both activities that translate strongly in both Raine Benares books (in the tight action fighting sequences, and the beauty & significance of spellsingers like Mychael and Piaras). When you write, do you undertake any other sorts of hands-on type of research?

Lisa: Since I’ve begun writing Raine’s adventures, unfortunately I haven’t had the time to get back into the fencing gym. But I have five years of fencing experience to fall back on (my Olympic weapons of choice are the foil and epee). And while I was working on the manuscript that would become Magic Lost, Trouble Found, I took private rapier and dagger lessons, and took a lot of notes for future book use. My fencing coach, Wes Caudill, helped me block out the fight scene in the first chapter of Magic Lost, Trouble Found, and is always available for any and all of my combat-related questions.

Like Raine, I like to be creative in my fighting style. Though unlike Raine, I’ve never used a rose bush branch as an offhand weapon. I prefer the more traditional offhand weapons: a dagger, a second rapier (fighting with a pair of rapiers is also known as a “case” of rapiers or Florentine style), a dueling cloak (though I never quite got the hang of that), but what was just too much fun was a rapier and a bullwhip. Yep, you heard me right. Believe me, nothing distracts an opponent like a six-foot whip wrapping around their blade. Hmmm, a bullwhip. That sounds like a weapon Raine would like.

In Bewitched & Betrayed, there will be what I want to be sword-fighting scene that readers won’t forget. Wes will be helping me choreograph that scene as well. It’ll probably take me a long time to get it on the page just right. It has to be realistic, and convey that this is life and death. I want it to be a real nail-biter for the reader.

The Book Smugglers: In a recent interview over at Fantasy Debut, you gave a teaser about an upcoming book, set outside of Raine’s world–in a different genre altogether! What are your writing plans for the future? Any upcoming releases we should be on the lookout for?

Lisa: I don’t have another book other than Raine’s adventures in the works at the moment. But I do have an urban fantasy/thriller series that I hope to be starting within the next two years.

The Book Smugglers: What are you reading right now?

Lisa: Since I’m gearing up to write Raine’s next adventure—Bewitched & Betrayed—I’m steering clear of fantasy as reading material. I’m re-reading a favorite crime caper, Put A Lid On It by Donald Westlake—sharp, smart, snarky fun.

Lisa currently works as the editor at an advertising agency. She has been a magazine editor and writer of corporate marketing materials of every description. Lisa enjoys singing, reading, writing novels, and fencing (foil and epee, as well as rapier & dagger dueling). She lives in North Carolina with her husband, one cat, two spoiled-rotten retired racing greyhounds, and a Jack Russell terrier who rules them all. Magic Lost, Trouble Found and Armed & Magical are the first two books in her Raine Benares adventure series. The Trouble With Demons will be out in the spring of 2009.

A big Thank You again to Lisa Shearin for stopping by and chatting with us. Be sure to check out Lisa’s wonderful blog, and (if you are a sucker for Raine like I am) her online store! I for one cannot wait for The Trouble With Demons!

The giveaway is on. Good luck!

Title: Magic Lost, Trouble Found and Armed & Magical

Author: Lisa Shearin

Genre: Fantasy

Stand Alone or Series: Books 1 and 2 of the Raine Benares series

Summary: (from Amazon.com)

MAGIC LOST, TROUBLE FOUND

A girl with attitude. An all-powerful amulet. This could only mean trouble.

“My name is Raine Benares. I’m a seeker. The people who hire me are usually happy when I find things. But some things are better left unfound…”

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 not-quite-reformed thief, steals an 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 enhancement worth her soul?

ARMED & MAGICAL

Ordinary sorceress. Extraordinary power. Suddenly she’s the most popular girl in town.

“My name is Raine Benares. Until last week I was a seeker—a finder of things lost and people missing. Now I’m psychic roommates with the Saghred, an ancient stone with cataclysmic powers. Just me, the stone, and all the souls it’s ingested over the centuries. Crowded doesn’t even begin to describe it…”

All Raine wants is her life back—which means getting rid of the stone and the power it possesses. To sort things out, she heads for the Isle of Mid, home to the most prestigious sorcery school, as well as the Conclave, the governing body for all magic users. It’s also home to power-grubbing mages who want Raine dead and goblins who see her as a thief. As if that’s not enough, Mid’s best student spellsingers are disappearing left and right, and Raine’s expected to find them.

Lives are at stake, goblins are threatening to sue, mages are getting greedier, and the stone’s power is getting stronger by the hour. This could get ugly.

Why did I read the books: Recently, book 2, Armed & Magical, hit bookstores. I had Magic Lost, Trouble Found sitting on my TBR for an embarrassingly long period of time, so the new release finally gave me the kick in the pants I needed to start this series.

Review:

MAGIC LOST, TROUBLE FOUND (book 1)

Magic Lost, Trouble Found introduces us to the world of Raine Benares–a sorceress of mild to average talent, but one who is damn good at her job as a Seeker (that is, someone who ’seeks’ lost things, be they precious objects or people–which has more to do with Raine’s smarts than magical abilities). Raine is also a member of one of the most notorious families of pirates in all of the Isles, and happens to be an Elf. The book opens with Raine following one of her part-time…er…contractors, named Quentin, who can’t quite seem to kick his side business of petty theft. Raine, suspecting the worst, shadows Quentin while he breaks into a high ranking necromancer’s home and steals something VERY important. So important, in fact, that as soon as he has his hands on the goods, a number of deadly Khrynsani Goblins materialize out of thin air to relieve Quentin of his valuable merchandise. Raine leaps to action, and with her pirate cousin Phaelan, the three of them manage to stave off the Goblins. Naturally, Raine is peeved–not only did she have to save Quentin’s hide, but now they must deal with the very hot stolen merc, which turns out to be a strange amulet. To keep Quentin out of more trouble, Raine takes the amulet and slips it over her head…and finds herself in a whole world of trouble. Though it seems innocuous, the amulet actually is a keyed link to the Saghred–a rock of immense power, affectionately nicknamed by history “Soul Stealer”. And Raine can’t take the dratted thing off. From a seeker of minor talents, Raine finds her magical skills growing exponentially. Not to mention, a herd of really bad nasties are now hot on her trail, from Goblin usurpers and the evil Khrysani (and uber Goblin villain Sarad Nukpana), to the Elven Guardians who police the Isles. Needless to say, Raine is in it big time, and must find a way to avoid being enslaved and killed, keeping her loved ones out of harm’s way, and simultaneously try to deal with getting rid of the dratted all-powerful amulet.

Magic Lost, Trouble Found is a wonderful fantasy debut from Ms. Shearin. The book is fast-paced and thoroughly entertaining, and manages to maintain a light, playful tone despite the darker odds Raine finds herself facing. So often after reading fantasy, I finish a book feeling almost weighed down–both in terms of the length of the book, and due to many of the darker, oppressive content. Magic Lost, Trouble Found is a welcome departure from this norm as the book moves briskly without any unnecessary meandering side plots or verbiage, and manages to keep the overall mood light and snappy through the first person narration of the quick, humorous heroine.

Raine Benares is a wonderful heroine. I loved that Ms. Shearin made the choice to keep Raine’s natural magical talents very limited, and even when Raine is bestowed with the ALL-POWERFUL-AMULET!, she would much rather use her head, with magic as a last resort. As a narrator, Raine’s voice is sarcastic (but not jaded), playful, but most importantly, Raine is completely competent. She might not be the most powerful sorceress on the block or the best fighter, but she knows her strengths and uses them to her advantage.

There is also a romantic subplot that begins in book 1, between Raine and two powerful, different men. The Paladin, Mychael Eiliesor, is the commander of the Elven Guardians. A powerful spellsinger, Mychael is the “good guy” in the love triangle formula. On the other side, there’s Tam–Goblin, scoundrel, and gabling/night club owner. If Mychael is the clean cut good guy, then Tam is the bad boy with a dark past, but who Raine believes has a heart of gold under the charmingly scandalous exterior. Sure, this is formulaic and nothing groundbreaking, but as a subplot, with three very likable characters, it’s a nice perk.

I loved the quick pacing of this book, the smart fantasy, as well as the strong heroine. After finishing the last page, I closed the book with a grin on my face while reaching for the next volume…

ARMED AND MAGICAL (book 2)

Armed and Magical picks up immediately where Magic Lost, Trouble Found leaves off. After thwarting the nefarious machinations of the Khrynsani and managing to trick Sarad Nukpana into an eternity of servitude trapped in the Saghred, Raine sets off for the Isle of Mid with her cousin Phaelan, her good friend (and younger brother figure) Piaras, and the enigmatic Paladin, Mychael Eiliesor. Book 2 opens with Raine sequestered in a comfortable, luxurious tower room–where she can’t cause any more trouble. Raine is fed up with her pretty prison (for this is how she sees her stay in the prestigious college)–but things don’t stay quiet for long.

Gazing down at the opening ceremonies for the school, Raine sees Banan Ryce–leader of the Nightshades, a band of mercenary elves–as he gives a signal to assassinate the Archmagus in the ceremony below. Using her new Saghred-enhanced powers, Raine is able to stop Banan before anyone is hurt, but he and his men escape with a kidnapped student. As it turns out, another student has already been kidnapped…and more are taken. Raine uses her new improved seeking skills to try and get to the bottom of the mystery, while thwarting assassination attempts on the Archmagus, trying not to get caught up in nasty Conclave politics, all the while desperately looking for some way to rid herself of the Saghred (unfortunately for Raine, Sarad Nukpana has figured out how to ‘talk’ to her through the stone, and he’s not a pleasant voice to have in one’s head).

The second volume’s adventures equal the magic of the first–Raine continues to be just as cool as ever, except this time the stakes are even higher. In this book (more so than the first) I loved Raine’s reluctance to use her new powers (just ‘cuz she has them doesn’t mean she has to like it). The relationship between Raine and the Saghred is explained in much more detail here, and the gravity of the situation becomes painfully clear to the reader. Similarly, Raine’s relationships with both Mychael and Tam progress a little more, with some interesting complications. Also, the pacing of book 2, is just as crisp and quick paced as the first novel. I have to applaud Ms. Shearin for her ability to write novels that are this jam-packed with action, and yet manage not to give up all the cards. I like that while each book wraps up nicely, there are still a LOT of dangling, tantalizing plot lines remaining. No simple happily ever afters here–just the way I like it!

So…if you couldn’t tell by now, I loved these books. I eagerly await the third and fourth!

Notable Quotes/Parts: Hmm. Here’s a short section that doesn’t spoil, but shows a bit of the wonderful character that is Raine Benares!

Mychael’s smile was more like a baring of teeth. “I just might take you up on that.” He looked down at Phaelan’s rapier and sighed. “I really hate to tell you this, but I can only allow Guardians to have swords in Sirens this evening.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Even now?”
“Especially now.”
“And especially considering who he is,” I shot back.
“Raine, I can’t make any exceptions.”
Phaelan shrugged, unbuckled his sword belt, and tossed it on my bed. “As a guest here, I humbly comply with my host’s wishes.”
Mychael just looked at him. “You’re bristling with daggers, aren’t you?”
” ‘Bristling’ is such a negative term, I prefer ‘amply armed.’ ” My cousin turned to me. “Speaking of ample, there’s no room in that bodice for anything other than you. You wearing a thigh sheath?”
I linked my arm through Mychael’s. “Now what would be the sense of wearing just one? I have two thighs.” I glanced up at Mychael. “Welcome to a night on the town with the Benares family.”

Additional Thoughts: I felt that this book gave me a better feel for Raine’s world, the kingdom of Brenir. Book 1 gave a feel for the city of Mermeia in all its dark underbelly splendour–but Book 2 shifts locations to the privileged, snooty, political Isle of Mid. Social separations alluded to in the first novel became tangible here. One thing I do love in my fantasy novels are maps–and unfortunately there isn’t one in either book! Hmph. Regardless, I love the world that Ms. Shearin has created; I love the almost Venice-like feel to it; even the names of characters feel like an allusion to the Venetian nexus between the Eastern and Western world.

Author Lisa Shearin has a pretty cool website, and a great blog offering writing tips and valuable pearls of knowledge for any aspiring authors–stop by and give her a visit at lisashearin.com! Bonus–you can get signed copies of her books through her website. What a deal–I’m thinking about giving away my tattered copies and buying some autographed versions!

Verdict: An enchanting start to a new series! I highly recommend books 1 and 2; Raine Benares is a heroine well worth rooting for–plus, Goblins are sexy? Never heard that one before!

Rating:

Magic Lost, Trouble Found – 8 Excellent
Armed and Magical – 7 Very Good

Magic Lost, Trouble Found gets a slightly higher grade because I felt completely taken unawares by the book–I fell in love with Raine, Piaras, Tam, Mychael, Tam…it’s hard to get better than a wonderful introduction, but I have the utmost confidence in Ms. Shearin’s work; I cannot wait to read The Trouble With Demons, coming 2009!

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