Living Nightmare by Shannon K. Butcher Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Signet Available: November 2nd 2010 Genre: Paranormal Romance Source: Publisher Reviewed by: Samantha 

For nine years, Nika has had one goal: to save her younger sister from the Synestryn who hold her captive. Now the psychic bond Nika forged with her sibling is fading, and time is running out. But the one man who can unlock the power inside her left and never returned, leaving Nika alone to rescue a sister everyone else believes is dead.

Madoc swore to himself he would never enter Dabyr again. For his soul is nearly dead, and he fears what he might do to those he’s sworn to protect — especially Nika. If he accompanies her into the Synestryn realm, his forbidden desire for her may unleash the savage monster within him. But Nika’s need to rescue her sister soon becomes intertwined with her passion for Madoc, while the a key to victory in the war may be within her reach…

In this fourth book in The Sentinel Wars series by Shannon K. Butcher, readers are finally treated to the story of Madoc and Nika. Madoc is a fierce (maybe crazy?) and brutal warrior quickly in danger of losing his soul if he doesn’t find his mate. Madoc has always been drawn to the young and formerly frail Nika who for years was considered crazy. Nika was taken from her family 9 years ago and her sister Tori is believed to be dead, but Nika has always had a bond with Tori and Nika believes Tori is still alive somewhere. When Nika breaks free to go find her sister, Madoc is called upon to bring her home. Madoc struggles with his attraction to Nika for fear he will hurt her and knowing that when they touch each other, Nika is not the woman destined to save his soul. Or is she?

I was so excited about the release of this book because at the end of Running Scared (book 3) I was dying to see how the story between Madoc and Nika was going to unfold. It was so obvious their attraction to each other meant they would be soul mates. I also eagerly awaited more on the side story between paralyzed warrior Torr and his "care giver" Grace. And while I enjoyed watching how Madoc and Nika develop their relationship – as those two are like oil and water – I found myself getting distracted by all the various characters and other plot lines going on in the book. I had read all 3 books in the series prior to Living Nightmare and I realized I was having a hard time placing characters. It’s like the male warriors don’t having any distinguishing characteristics that makes me immediately think of scenes with them from the previous books and I found this sort of troubling. Then to see something major happen between Torr and Grace (no spoilers here!) only to find the preview of the next book is focused on two other characters had me scratching my head. How long is Butcher going to drag this thing out? There is just so much going on that perhaps there should could be fewer story lines in each book allowing more time to be spent with the characters to allow us to get to know them better.

But in the end Madoc and Nika are both very strong characters who carry the book. Madoc’s sheer fierceness (and sometimes seemingly psychotic behavior) blends well with Nika’s determination which is often laced with naivety, and I found I was rewarded with a story I felt I waited so long for. And these two particular characters have always had traits that make is impossible to forget them throughout the series. This series is one where you definitely need to read the other books or you will probably be lost if you pick up Living Nightmare as your first read in the series. But if you have been a fan of the series, then I think you will like this book.

Favorite Quote:

"If that’s really such a big problem for you, then I’ll go find one of the teenage boys downstairs, take care of the problem, and be back in ten minutes. I understand from gossip they don’t take long to finish."

 

Series list:

• Burning Alive (Sentinel Wars, #1)
• Finding the Lost (Sentinel Wars, #2)
• Running Scared (Sentinel Wars, #3)
• Living Nightmare (Sentinel Wars, #4)

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Running Scared: The Sentinel Wars by Shannon K. Butcher Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: Onyx Available: May 4, 2010 Genre: Paranormal Romance Book received from: Penguin

They are the Sentinels. Three races descended from ancient guardians of mankind, each possessing unique abilities in their battle to protect humanity against their eternal foes: the Synestryn. Now one Sentinel’s survival determines the fate of them all.

Lexi Johns has one purpose: to free her best friend from the hands of the Sentinels. And Zach, the Sentinel she has been running from for months, has one goal: to convince her that their destinies are entwined. For the magic that Zach has absorbed could destroy him if he doesn’t find the woman who can channel it for him. And he knows Lexi is the one.

From an early age, Lexi has been taught to fear the Sentinels. And now she is an agent of a group out to destroy them. So when Zach finds her, it is Lexi’s chance to strike at the heart of the Sentinels. But, as Lexi sees Zach’s courage, selflessness, and honor, she begins to doubt her beliefs—and is faced with an unbearable choice.

Reviewer: Samantha 

 

I signed up to review Running Scared by Shannon K. Butcher not knowing at the time that it was the third book in her series The Sentinel Wars. I felt in order to give a truly honest review of the book, that it was only fair I read the other two books first. I am so glad I did – and I did it fast, because I couldn’t really put them down! Three books in five days. Now having read the series I believe it is really important to read the first two books before starting this book. Butcher builds an intricate and complex paranormal fantasy world filled with a whole slew of characters that can show up at any time. A world that Butcher fills with warriors, monsters, vampires, a super old adult that looks like an eight year old, and who knows what else will be thrown at us as the series progresses. To sum up this complex world – basically the Sentinel Warriors are trying to protect humans from evil monsters. The warriors also need a female to bond to keep their soul in tact.

In Running Scared we finally get the story of Zach, a Sentinel Warrior, and Lexi, a waitress. Zach and Lexi had a brief encounter in the beginning of Burning Alive (book 1). Zach has since spent his time on the hunt to find her after she slips away from him, because he believes she is the savior of his soul. Lexi has been on the run most of her life. She is terrified of Zach and the Sentinels as she was taught from her mother at a very early age to fear them. But Lexi believes her friend Helen (again from book 1) is being held captive by the Sentinels and finally decides to give in to Zach’s pursuit in an attempt to free her friend.

As Zach and Lexi finally come together, both with their personal agendas, we are taken through the typical super yummy man wants strong-willed woman saga, but woman is resisting the man. I don’t mean for this to sound like a bad thing. The male warriors are very appealing. I find myself always rooting for them to find their female match, especially since their soul depends on it. However, the formula of the lead characters remains consistent as with Butcher’s first two books in The Sentinel Wars series. I was a little disappointed with this. In this third book of the series it is the secondary cast of characters that really shine and kept me on the couch reading this book in one sitting. The story of cold and hardened Sentinel Warrior Madoc and the frail and possibly crazy Nika had me wanting to turn the pages so fast to read more that I could barely stand it. We also get some big secrets revealed in this book, and more new characters and side stories are introduced.

I can’t deny the heat between Zach and Lexi is steamy, and I definitely rooted for them to work out their differences. It’s just this book leaves me wanting to know so much more about all the other characters. With some authors the introduction of so many characters can be confusing to the reader, but I think Butcher does a fair job of weaving everything together. I enjoyed this book more than the first two, but again, it was because of Madoc and Nika and not because of our lead hero and heroine. For that reason I can’t give it a full 4 hearts. I walk away from Running Scared with one constant thought – I don’t think I can make it until November when Butcher’s fourth book in this series, titled Living Nightmare, is released. I need to know what happens between many of the characters right now!

Favorite Quote:

At this rate she would be kissing his ass by dawn. Which didn’t sound like an entirely bad thing. If his ass was as nice under his jeans as it looked, she could really enjoy herself.

 

Purchase a copy of Running Scared: The Sentinel Wars

Other books in the series:

• Burning Alive (Sentinel Wars, #1)
• Finding the Lost (Sentinel Wars, #2)
• Living Nightmare (Sentinel Wars, #4) (November, 2010)

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