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Armed and Magical Book Review

Lisa Shearin's Sequel is Just as Witty, Magical, and Chick-lit.

Jul 25, 2009 Keri Honea

Raine Benares can't get a break from the Saghred. She finds serious trouble yet again with the rock and still keeps her sense of humor along with her magic and daggers.

At the end of Magic Lost, Trouble Found, Raine Benares was on her way to the Isle of Mid, home of the Conclave—the governing body of mages—and a prestigious mage college, in order to find a way to sever her bond to the Saghred, a powerful, soul-stealing rock. Armed and Magical (published April 2008, ISBN 9780441015870) begins on Raine's first day on the island, and she's rather quick to anger plenty of mages and reunite with her old friend, Trouble.

Raine's Adventures on the Isle of Mid

Now that the Saghred has been found after nine hundred years, plenty of people covet its abilities. Evil goblins and power-hungry elves have all converged on Mid to try to get their hands on Raine so that they may control the Saghred. If that wasn't enough, someone is kidnapping the island's best spellsingers for reasons unknown.

Of course, Raine wants to help find the spellsingers, which entangles her even further in the master plot to steal the Saghred as well as an ensuing political struggle amongst the mages of the Conclave. Along with her friends Mychael, Tam, Piaras, Phaelan, and Vegard, Raine sets out to find who is ultimately pulling the strings and save the world yet again.

Lisa Shearin's Wit and Chick-lit Style Perseveres

Armed and Magical is also told strictly through Raines eyes and thoughts, and most of her thoughts are quite humorous despite the fact that her life is constantly threatened. One of her most memorable thoughts is, "Whoever said ignorance is bliss must have died a horrible death with a really surprised look on his face" (p. 147).

Raine's wit and snark also embody somewhat of modern, vernacular language, which is more aligned with urban fantasy than typical fantasy about swords and magic. "Crap. The kid's got elf ears, Raine. You've got a pair yourself. They're not just there to look good" (p. 127).

This modernized style of Shearin's is also rather chick-lit, but the informal, chick-lit writing doesn't detract from the seriousness and gravity of the situations Raine finds herself in. In fact, Shearin seamlessly switches back and forth between the serious and formal writing expected from adult fantasy and the chick-lit freestyle.

Armed and Magical Final Word

Like Magic Lost, Trouble Found, Armed and Magical will most likely not appeal to the hardcore fanbase of fantasy novels. However, those looking for a quick, fun fantasy with a story as deep as most other books in the genre should look into Lisa Shearin's series, especially those with a penchant for urban fantasy. It will not disappoint, especially those with a funny bone.

The copyright of the article Armed and Magical Book Review in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fiction is owned by Keri Honea. Permission to republish Armed and Magical Book Review in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Armed and Magical book cover