Lisa Shearin – Con & Conjure

The fifth book in the Raine Benares series, published March 29, 2011.
Genre: fantasy romance
Cover: good



My name is Raine Benares. I’m a seeker who finds lost things and missing people. My relatives, on the other hand, steal thing. They’re the most notorious criminal family in the seven kingdoms. Sometimes I wonder if they have the right idea, especially since what I’ve found lately is likely to get me killed. And the Saghred, a soul stealing stone that has given met unlimited power, is to blame for every last bit of it.

Ever since the Saghred bonded to me, the goblin King and the elven power brokers have wanted to possess the magic themselves. But to get it, they’ll have to get me, and their pockets are deep enough to make that happen. With the help of my highly qualified family, I’ve rigged the perfect con – one that will financially ruin the elves who are spoiling for war. My family’s run elaborate scams before, but none involving this much money, government officials this highly ranked, or a war this close to starting. In our way is a goblin thief who’s after the Saghred, and my ex-fiancé – an elven assassin who may be after me. I broke up with him. Let’s just say it could have gone better.
If either the goblins or the elves get their hands on the Saghred, they have every intention of using it. Which means total annihilation will be inevitable.


I devoured this fifth book in the series. It was so much fun. Another cousin has come to Mid to help Raine. This one is not a pirate though, he gets seasick on a ship, this one is a banker. Of course he does not use the name Benares ;) He is going to help Raine by fleecing her adversaries to they can no longer pay to hurt/kidnap/kill her and those she loves. Both the Goblin King and some pure bred Elves want to start a war and annihilate the other species completely, and for that, they need control over Raine and through her, the Saghred. They don’t care what happens to her in the process, that she will go mad being used to eat souls for the rock. Even though she has powerful friends in high places, they can’t protect her from everything. Especially as Raine refuses to be locked away.
The Goblin prince in exile is also coming back to town unexpectedly early, he wants to dethrone his brother, and keep the peace, so Raine is all about supporting him. The money they will fleece from the elves will go to support his cause, which is of course wickedly ironic.

But of course her enemies don’t sit still, they have evil plans of their own, and they don’t care at all if innocent people die because of their actions. As long as they get what they want. But they might have bitten off more than they can this time …


I loved this fifth book in the series, and devoured it in about 4 hours. As usual it is fast paced, with a lot of action and danger for Raine. I liked the new cousin, Mago, and how he also stood behind Raine. He is Phaelan’s older brother, and of course they tease each other.
The parts where Mago and Raine in disguise are working together are just fun and surprising.
I did miss Piaras in this story though, and some private times with Mychael.
Still, there is finally some progress, some of her enemies are taken out of the equation, but of course bigger dangers are already there. The Saghred is stolen by a Goblin thief who is also a chameleon, and Sarad Nukpana is building the biggest Gateway ever, to lead his army through. They will have to stop him, and fast …

I just can’t get enough of this series. I love all the characters and the setting, the magic. Lisa Shearin has written an amazing tale, and I am very happy that the series does not end after the sixth book. So far, it keeps twisting and surprising me, making me want more and more.

9 stars.

© 2014 Reviews by Aurian