Artifact Hunters (SM Reine) Books in Order

Artifact Hunters takes one of the wilder corners of the Descentverse and leans into the fun of it. The lead is Shatter Cage, a thief with more nerve than sense, who passes himself off as a phoenix even though he is actually a were-squirrel. That alone tells you a lot about the tone.

The first book, Race of Thieves, sets the pattern. Cage wants money, status, and a way out of the hole he has dug for himself. A chance to steal a powerful relic looks like the answer, until his ex, Brigid Byrne, shows up wanting the same prize. From there the series runs on cons, double-crosses, magical objects, and the constant feeling that everybody is lying about at least one important thing.

It moves fast.

What makes these books stand out is the mix of fantasy adventure and crooked little heist energy. There are monsters, cults, ancient objects, and bigger supernatural forces in the background, but the engine is still personal. Cage wants to win. Brigid wants to win more. Their history turns every job into a competition and every truce into a temporary one.

Even when the stakes grow, the series keeps that scrappy feel. These are not polished heroes riding in to save the day. They are hustlers, relic chasers, and survivors trying to stay one step ahead of the trouble they just made worse.

If you like your urban fantasy with more banter, more caper chaos, and a hero who is both ridiculous and weirdly lovable, Artifact Hunters is one of the easiest Descentverse entry points to fall into.