I liked this book, but was able to put it down for days at a time; it just didn't keep me like the previous installments. I think part was due to the fact that I felt the author chickened out of the 'darker' relationship between Raines and Tam in favor of the 'good guy' Mychael, by making him more mysterious and with some shade to his past. That was just a cop-out in my opinion.
I would also like to see some more satellite character development and not just descriptions.
Okay--this sounds like a harsh commentary on the book, but in general its a fast read with lots of action and it was well written. ( )

I absolutely loved the first three books in the Raine Beanres series, but I hadn’t discovered them until just before the third book in the series was to be published. I like to read fantasy in trilogies so it worked out perfect for me. With the sixth book due out in May it’s time for me to get caught up with the soon to be sextet.

I loved this novel, at times I felt like I was in the streets of Waterdeep and was sneaking around looking to settle a score. Mid feels like a great place to RPG in, like Lankhmar or Sanctuary, but the protagonist Raines is so likable and believable it propels the world be so much more.

Most of the characters from the first three books are back, and with the addition of my favorite new character, Imala Kalis. My biggest complaint she didn’t have enough scenes in this novel for my taste but I hope that is rectified in books five and six. Imala is the dimpled head of the goblin secret service and an old acquaintance of Tams.

If you like the first three books you should get going on this volume soon. Even though you could hop in here enough is explained in the opening chapters that you don’t have to read the first three volumes why deny yourself the pleasure.

1st read 2012, reread 2017
Character List

Bewitched & Betrayed (Raine Benares #4)
Sid necromancer from the college’s necrology department
Vidor Kalta Nachtmagus (can control the dead)
General Aratus, dead
Eamaliel Anguis - RB's father a Conclave Guardian
Imala Kalis head of the goblin secret service, cute
Kester Morrell magic user
Maire Orla magic user
Karl Cradock hires Orla and Morrell to kidnap Duke Markus Sevelien

Characters that appeared in earlier volumes

Armed & Magical (Raine Benares #2)
Raine Benares elf and a seeker
Phaelan cousin, Captain, pirate
Guardians from the Conclave - Vegard Rolfgar and Riston were both big and human
Loran Abas, professor emeritus of chanting
Archmagus Justinius Valerian - had absolute authority over the Isle of Mid and everyone on it.
Mychael Eiliesor was the paladin and commander of the Guardians
Banan Ryce was commander of the Nightshades (elves—also assassins, kidnappers, blackmailers,)
Eamaliel Anguis - RB's father a Conclave Guardian, trapped in Sagherd
Sarad Nukpana was a goblin and the high priest of the Khrynsani, trapped in Sagherd
Giles Keril - The elven ambassador to Mid
Maestro Ronan Cayle - spellsinging master. The legend who only taught future legends
Piaras Rivalin - elf,landlady’s grandson, and the little brother I’d always wanted
Sedge Rinker - Mid's chief watcher
Janek Tawl - chief watcher of the Sorcerers District back home in Mermeia
Megan Jacobs kidnapped student
Ailia Aurillac kidnapped rich student, mirror magic
Lucan Kalta. The chief librarian
Rudra Muralin’s journal -had been a spellsinger. A young, talented, powerful spellsinger
Nelek - librarian
Carnades Silvanus, senior mage on the Seat of Twelve, Ailia Aurillac’s faculty advisor, elf
Darshan goblin Khrynsani shaman
Tamnais Nathrach (Tam) old title Primaru Nathrach - goblin bar owner
Talon Tandu. He works in Tam’s nightclub as a spellsinger.
Taltek Balmorlan. He’s with elven intelligence
Duke Markus Sevelien, the elven intelligence agency’s chief officer in Mermeia

The Trouble with Demons (Raine Benares #3)
Vegard Rolfgar, Conclave Guardian, my bodyguard
Professor Berel killed by a demon Volghul
Sora Niabi, human,she's professor of demonology.
Reapers - collect the dead
Uncle Ryn - pirate Commodore
Dalis - older woman wearing healer’s robes, Justinius's healer
Katelyn Valerian - Justinius's granddaughter
General Aratus reports to Markus Sevelien






( )

Results of the last story turn into serious problems here - Nukpana is (sort of) loose. I'm really surprised that no one pointed out that Talon and Tam did exactly the same thing - took off without backup, and thereby gave the responsible adults (Raine? Responsible? Hmm) one more person to find and rescue. Success, almost, sort of - and in this case, although the threat continues, there's also strong action to take against it. Nice ending. Next! ( )

Raine and Mychael have sex. Raine has to kill Tam because he's possessed by Sarad. This breaks their umi]'atsu bond. I like Imala and home that she's paired with Tam. ( )

One of the things I love most about this series is its supporting cast. In Bewitched & Betrayed, we get more Michael and Tam as well as some new faces like Vidor Kalta and Imala Kalis, who are both seriously awesome characters. We also get to see the love triangle resolved in a very satisfying way. At one point, a major plot twist had me holding my breath, but I shouldn't have worried - Ms. Shearin is an evil genius who knows exactly what she's doing, and the ending is everything I'd hoped for. My only criticism is that a few long scenes of exposition and recapping of previous events slow the momentum of the story, making it not flow quite as well as previous installments. Otherwise, I really enjoyed Bewitched & Betrayed. I look forward to seeing what trouble Raine gets herself into in book five. ( )