OK

This is a series worth buying, although I recommend reading rather than listening to them.

The story covers an elf lady who has a small amount of magic and acts as a 'seeker' essentially someone who finds lost or stolen goods using her magic and then tricks, swords and wit to free them and return them for a fee. We see very little of this side of her life however as very early on in the first book she is trapped into being bonded with a power hungry evil stone that desires human sacrifice. Despite repeated 'girl power you can't stop me" type statements from the protagonist she essentially is the "damsel in distress" for most of the series, with a succession of men and boys who either find her so beautiful/fun/talented/loyal that they continually drop everything to help her through the plot.

The fantasy world in which the story is set has several original elements, and the first book makes a good start at exploring that world. Unfortunately it does become rather repetitive and formulaic through the series, with less plot and slower pace of events with more sidetracking to feature hanky panky with the various men who continually compliment our heroine, a failing of many supernatural fictions these days...too much fluff and not enough substance.

You will literally get fed up with the inappropriate use of the word literally, also with the nonsensical phrase "I didn't ask it as a question". I read the books before I bought the audible version and I didn't notice these things when reading, I also had a higher opinion of the heroine which I think is partially a product of the delivery by the narrator but partly because an internal dialogue being read from a page in private has a different essence from listening to these private thoughts being said aloud by another person.
The narrator has a reasonable range of voices and delivery is ok, although I listened at 1.25 speed as at recommended speed it became tedious.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

This witty and sassy book brought to life

Great story and series which I've read a few times. Bought the audio version to do whilst ironing and it was brought to life by the narrator. Different voices, accents and turns of phrase made the characters even more fun. Try it, you'll enjoy it.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Awesom Book

If you could sum up Magic Lost, Trouble Found in three words, what would they be?

adventure, magic, mystery

What other book might you compare Magic Lost, Trouble Found to, and why?

there is a series by Barbra Annino whose heroine is named Stacey Justice. I relate Raine Benares to Stacey Justice in this way: They are two female characters each discovering against their will that there is a magical destiny prepared for them both and both are reluctant to enbark on it. Another similarity is that both are trained in martial and arcane arts.Also both characters usually through no fault of their own wind up either causing trouble or the instrument through which trouble comes or even the reason why trouble follows them.

What does Eileen Stevens bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

to listen to this book in audible form the reader Eileen Stevens takes you into the world the author has created. Eileen Stevens has the ability to portray both male and female voice without it seeming forced or put on. It is a perfect rendition of the heroine telling the story as well as the male influences in the heroine's life.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh. There are quite a few laughable moments because no matter how much and how careful the heroine tries to avoid trouble it follows her relentlessly.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Too much exposition, not enough plot

One of the most common failings of science-fiction / fantasy novels is the tendency to throw in a huge amount of characters with lots of unpronouncable names of many syllables and a profusion of V's and Z's, and then to TELL us who they are, what they do, and what their role is in relation to all other characters, rather than simply SHOWING us and making the voices unique and memorable (even if the names aren't).

This was a passable story with an OK plot, but I grew bored of all the exposition and scores of minor characters we would never see again. Maybe when reading this it's easier to keep all the names, roles and family ties straight, but I found I back-tracked the audio about 8 times for one particular passage alone, because it was pure exposition and nothing happened to move the story forward or to hold my interest.

Not the worst book I've ever read / heard, but I didn't care enough about the characters to want to re-visit them in any of the sequels, and I doubt I will ever listen to this one again either.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!