Magic Lost, Trouble Found

by Lisa Shearin

Ace Books, 7.99; 345 pp

A tricky thief and a young woman who has a particular talent for finding things start off this tale set in its own world, full of sorcerers and elves and fire pixies, but Shearin does not use a standard formula for her novel. Her elves are gorgeous and tall, but her goblins are very much like elves, also gorgeous but grey-skinned and darker in spirit. Goblins are as attractive to females as elves.

But elves and goblins rarely see eye to eye on things.

And a special item of great power, an amulet called the Saghred which is full of trapped souls and amazing power which everyone wants suddenly reappears on the scene, having been thought hidden for centuries, its magic and power bound and quiescent.

Our heroine, Raine Benares finds out that she is related to the elf that bound and hid the amulet from the world at large and when a sorcerer uncovers it---she is the lucky one sent to seek it out. And finds out to her surprise that the amulet is attuned to her and she can manipulate some of its amazing powers.

So Raine finds herself not only in the midst of a magic power struggle but in a dynastic struggle between goblin princes all abetted by an evil sorcerer with a nasty agenda of his own.

While juggling all this, she comes under the protection of elven Guardian Mychael Eiliesor a handsome hunk of elven knighthood sent from the mysterious magical isle of Mid to protect her and get back the Saghred, before the evil sorcerer does.

And adventures abound: escapes into icky swamps full of testy little fire pixies, goblin battles, magical confrontations, and a very grand party.

This was a load of fun. I wish there had been a bit more romance, but nevertheless the characters were entertaining and compelling, especially as Shearin writes the novel from the first person view point of Raine. Who, as you will discover, is a character and a half. - Sue Martin