Dying Wish: A Novel of the Sentinel Wars [Mass Market Paperback]

Shannon K. Butcher (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 6, 2012 | Series: sentinel Wars (Book 6)

Jackie Patton has been rescued by the Theronai from her captivity and torture at the hands of the Synestryn, only to learn that she's a potential match for the Theronai warriors who need a woman to literally save their lives.

Forced to choose, she unexpectedly selects Iain, a cold-hearted warrior who doesn't want to be saved. Iain is convinced that it's too late-that his soul is already as dead as his former betrothed, killed by the Synestryn. Still, he is the only one she wants. But is Iain indeed beyond saving?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

After spending too many years as an industrial engineer, Shannon learned to write from her husband, bestselling author Jim Butcher. She learned writing craft in order to help him with his stories, but found the idea of writing her own too compelling to resist. She lives in Missouri with her husband and son, where conversations at the dinner table are more often about things someone made up than about anything that’s actually happened. Feel free to contact Shannon via her website.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Signet; Original edition (March 6, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 045123605X
• ISBN-13: 978-0451236050
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #186,435 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Since launching her career in 2007, award-winning author Shannon K. Butcher has penned more than eighteen titles, including the paranormal romance series, the Sentinel Wars; the action-romance series, the Edge; and a handful of romantic suspense novels and works of short fiction. Being a former engineer and current nerd, she frequently uses charts, graphs and tables to aid her in the mechanics of story design and to keep track of all those pesky characters and magical powers. An avid beader and glass artist, she spends her free time playing with colored glass and beads. You can find her online at http://shannonkbutcher.com/.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Sentinel Wars Continues: When do we get a Companion Guide? March 25, 2012

By M. Brown

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

As I prepared to write this it occurred to me that much of my review for Butcher's previous full length novel in this series hold true: My bottom line is that I liked this book a great deal, just as I have enjoyed all of the previous installments, but it is a series novel that needs the context of the previous stories. Read this novel only if you have already read the earlier books--there are too many subplots to wade through if you don't already know some of what has already taken place. As with other series novels, only the main plot is given any resolution; all of the subplots are left fairly unresolved and will (hopefully) carry over to the next story.

This story focuses on Jackie Patton, who we discovered in the last novel is Helen Day's biological sister, and Theronai warrior Iain Terra. Jackie has discovered (much to her profound horror) that she has the ability to bond with any Theronai warrior, and this has led to a parade of men wanting her to partner with them. But a couple of years in captivity in the Synestryn breeding program left her deeply scarred, and there's no way she's even willing to fake it to keep others happy. Stuck between the rock of not wanting to be touched and the hard place of being a perpetual target for the Synestryn, she chooses the only warrior who doesn't seem to want her: Iain Terra.

There's a good reason Iain has no interest in Jackie: He's the leader of the Band of the Barren, Theronai warriors who have lost their soul. Iain has found a way to conceal these men from the leader of the Theronai in order to prevent the certain death sentence these men face. Iain knows he's only prolonged the inevitable for himself and his friends, but he can't allow them to meekly go to their deaths before they've done anything that merits this punishment. He wants the comfort and relief of partnering with Jackie, but without his soul such a pairing wouldn't survive long-term. He's convinced she's better off saving another. Too bad she's fed up with all the groping and puppy dog eyes and wants only the relief of a partner who wants her as little as she wants him.

But this is a romance, so this state of affairs isn't destined to last very long. The more Jackie and Iain try to stay away from each other, the more events conspire to bring them together. Like every other leading lady before her, Jackie has a useful talent, and is cajoled into using that talent to destroy Synestryn. There are a couple of major twists that need to be dealt with (their traumatic pasts and his lack of a soul) and then they live Happily Ever After.

Although the majority of the story is about Jackie and Iain, Butcher digresses a great deal to introduce or touch upon other plot lines. Butcher's Sentinel Wars series is now six books in, and extensive world building means that each new novel has an increasing amount of subplots included. Subplots in this book include the leader of the Theronai, Joseph Rayd, fighting his growing attraction to Lyka, who has been living with the Theronai as part of a hostage trade with the Slayers. In another important plot development a method to heal Grace, the human Theronai warrior Torr loves, has been discovered, and the implications for both Torr and the Theronai are unclear. And, just in case the reader isn't overwhelmed by minor plot developments, two unrelated characters in other subplots announce that there are as many as six more Theronai women that need to be found and brought to Dabyr. These are only three of the important subplots in the novel, and I am upset that I didn't go back and read at least the last few books to remind myself of what had gone before. Random thought: There must be no gay or lesbian Theronai, since they all must be in mated pairs of opposite genders. But now I'm the one digressing! This book is definitely not the place to start reading, and I highly recommend a review of the series before starting this one if you HAVE read the books! (And it all begs the question of how long it will be before a "Sentinel Companion" is released to help readers keep track of who's who.)

This isn't to say that I didn't like the book, because I did, I just don't suggest that the last two novels be read without the context of the series. As with the other books, there's a lot of action, intrigue, and romance, and I am curious about the addition of new villains. Just when the main baddie of the series, Zillah, was starting to become predictable a new, more powerful panel of villains has come along. Buckle up--it's going be a bumpy ride for the characters who will surely get books next!

I think my biggest complaint about the Sentinels series as a whole lies with the lack of discussion about the Slayers; they've been mentioned in several stories, but it seems like they're an afterthought, unworthy of involvement in the series. They're clearly an important part of the Sentinel trifecta, so why are they being shut out of the narrative? Along those same lines, the reader is also being deprived of any more details about Athanasia, or princes Eron and Lucien, who have defied their king and secretly traveled to Earth in order to father daughters who could save the Sentinels. Hope's plot twist in the previous novel, Blood Hunt, doesn't make this situation any better, and I do wish that Butcher would devote more time in her stories to exploring the Athanasia/Earth ties and the complex political situation that has led to this particularly troubled moment in Sentinel history.

This being said, I find these books highly pleasurable to read, and I have faith that my questions will be answered in due time. I'm already sitting on pins and needles waiting to see who is going to get the next story in the series!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars **SPOILERS** RECAP ON EVERYTHING SO FAR August 4, 2012

By Alexis Gregg

Format:Mass Market Paperback

****MAJOR SPOILERS ALERT****

I saw M. Brown review about needing a companion guide for these books and so decided to put my mini one up so that others may benefit. I started this review over the books for my benefit since between reading each book so many of the details are forgotten and I hated having to go over previous books to refresh myself. Part of my review actually comes from another reviewer on goodreads (reviewing RUNNING SCARED)named Kathy Davie. I took her review and added on to it for my benefit doubling the amount of information. So the following information is about everything that has happened throughout the last 6 novels so far.

~~Review~~

Lexi Johns was a waitress at the diner when Drake Asher and his friends kidnapped Helen and Miss Mabel. She can't help them now. Now she must escape---her mother has drummed it into her head to avoid the Sentinels for they were evil and would destroy her. She's been running ever since having disabled the magical tracker Zach placed on her. Zach who is desperate to find the woman who may keep him alive.

Drake and Helen and Paul and Andra are two of only three bonded couples amongst the Sentinels. Nika is Andra's sister and still very fragile. Joseph Rayd is the leader of the Theronia Sentinels one of whom is Madoc who is at the end of his life, a member of the Band of the Barren, and, as much as he wants to bond with Nika, she doesn't respond to him as he expects. All he can do for her is kill sgath. And stay away from her. Nicholas Brand is their computer guy, Iain Terra is both lethal and reliable, Iain--made promise with Serena (red head) but she's died. He is now bonded to Jackie Patton. Serena is found to be alive in Dying Wish, having been trapped by her mother in limbo for 200 years.
Neal, Morgan Valens, and Samuel are other Sentinels hoping Nika will bond to them.
Nika bonds with Madoc and is pregnant. Jackie Bonds with Iain and is pregnant.

The extremely young Sibyl has been rescued and sees the future. Cain is her Theronia bodyguard. Her sister, Maura, is still a prisoner of the Synestra. Both are the daughters of Gilda and Angus. Gilda is the Gray Lady; until Helen she was the only Sentinel female. Old and incredibly powerful, she is so angry on so many levels; Angus is her husband. Gilda made the girls twins in her womb by splitting them into two then when they were 8 she made them promise to stay little forever. She also made her husband sterile thus making the rest of the men sterile. The Sanguinar might have a way to restore the men's ability to have children. Her and Angus sacrifice themselves in Living Nightmare. With their deaths the twins were free of their curse and are now growing up but have lost their power of foresight. Also when they died they freed the rest of the Theronai men of their sterility.

Logan, Ronan, Alexander, and Tynan are Sanguinar demons. And healers whose truce with the Theronia provides the Sentinels with healing. They have their own agenda and are involved with a secret Sanguinaran venture called Project Lullaby. They seem to be trying to create blooded humans so that they have a blood supply and can live well again without starving.

Meghan Clark's father is dying of cancer and Alexander promises to save him in return for her taking a trip, meeting a man (John) ends with her getting pregnant. This project is finding blooded humans and pairing them together into families so they can have powerful blooded babies that will one day feed the Sanguinar and free them from their starvation.

Slade, Vance, and Carmen are Gerai, blooded humans who have vowed to help the Sentinels in any way. Grace is a Gerai working in the fortress and in love with the paralyzed and suicidal Torr. She takes Torr's place.

The Defenders of Humanity are a militia group who believe the Sentinels are evil. A viewpoint promoted by their leader Hector Morrow. Jake Morrow is Hector's son. They ended finding out the Sentinels are actually good. Dakota is Jake's cousin and mate to Liam (Theronai).

I think Connal is a Sanguinar who has been turned, altered, by Zillah, a Synestryn with a plan to retake the Sibyl. Connal is somehow being blackmailed by Zillah?

Sentinels are different groups of secret warriors fighting the demons: the Theronai and the Sanguinar are just two such groups. The Theronia's main weakness is age. As the male ages, his internal energy level increases with the pain almost unbearable until it burns him out and he loses his soul. The only relief from this build-up is if a Sentinel is bonded with a female Sentinel. Something happened to their women and there is only one left in the world. The Sentinels are dying, they are losing the war.
The Sanguinar are cursed to remain in darkness if they touch the sun they are attacked by Wardens from Athanasia. They were cursed by the Solarc (Grandfather?) for something their parents did. Their fathers invaded Athanasia, abducted and raped the women and so the Solarc had their children banished and cursed to live in darkness. Hope Serrien is Logan's mate, and turns out to be a type of Sanguinar also but from a planet called Temprocia. Her mother Serrien (an Athanasian) left her in Temprocia (behind the Solarc's back) in the safe keeping of Brenya (ruler of Temprocia) so that she would not be cursed with rest of the Sanguinar. She is what the Sanguinar would have been like if they had never been cursed by the Solarc. She feeds off the sun and does not need blood to live. Only Logan can access her blood. Oh and she can see auroras.
The Slayers are the third group. They are in charge of killing Theronai when their life marks become barren. Slayers are shapeshifters I believe. Andreas Phelan is the new leader of the Slayers. He has declared a truce with the Theronai. Lyka (could be compatable with Joseph?) is his half-sister (she is Theronai) and is now residing in Dabyr while Carmen Taite (Joseph's adopted daughter-she is a blooded human) goes with the Slayers--both as signs of the peace treaty. Carmen may be Andrea's mate?

Lucien is a son of the Solarc and father to Helen, Lexi, and Jackie. His brother Eron is the father of Andra and Nika and Tori. Jackie seems to be able to bond with anyone but is interested in the man least interested in her (Iain). Solarc is the tyrant king of Athanasia who shut the gate between his world and ours forbidding his sons from visiting Earth.

Brenya seems to be at war with the Solarc, at least there is something going on there. She comes to Earth and takes Grace and Tori with her to cure them. Grace is the blooded human in love with Torr (Theronai) who is paralyzed and so she trades places with him. Tori was taken by the Synestryn when young and altered by their blood so that they could breed with her. She was raped and became pregnant then lost the child. Her psyche is very fragile now. She is consumed with thoughts of revenge, and is a danger to all around her. She is 18 now and may be compatible with Nicholas but is too damaged, young and dangerous to bond. When Brenya takes the girls she gets Andra and Torr to pledge themselves to her.

Synestryn are a group name for the monsters, demons, and other beasties that go bump in the night. They are now creating human looking demons by kidnapping women and breeding them. The human looking demons may actually be more human than demon and may not pose a threat to the Sentinels. It seems that they also need the sun to survive and it seems to combat their Synestryn blood. The purpose of the Synestryn in life is to conquer the world "using humans as food while they battle their way into another world called Athanasia".

Zilla leader to thousands of Synestryn. Loses his place and is sentenced to donating blood by other Synestryn lords.
Canaranath is Zilla's second in command. He looks human and has fallen in love with human Ella, who is pregnant with his child..he could not stomach rape so he seduced her. He does not seem as evil. It seems the more human mixed into the demon the less evil the demon is.
Raygh, a very powerful Synestryn lord. Father to Murak.

Rory is a homeless girl who is friends with Hope and seems to have the power of visions. Could she be Theronia?

~~~~~~~
I also have a character list from BLOOD HUNT that I have expanded.

Characters
Alexander Siah: Sanguinar
Briant Athar: Sanguinar
Tynan Leygh: Sanguinar
Ronan: Sanguinar
Connal Athar: Sanguinar--traitor? Read more ›

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars great romantic urban fantasy March 6, 2012

By Harriet Klausner #1 HALL OF FAME

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Jackie Patton desperately wants to return to the life she had before the Synestryn captured and tortured her for the past two years. However, Jackie "blue' knows she will never live that carefree life ever again. Besides the impact of the ordeal on her mind and the knowledge her vile kidnappers stalk her; she feels a debt of gratitude to her rescuers, Theronai warriors. To make some remittance, Jackie believes she should mate with one of them as that will save the life of her chosen partner; though she hopes temporary is enough.

Jackie stuns everyone when she selects tundra cold Iain. He rejects her offer as he insists his soul already died when the Synestryn killed his betrothed. She ignores his rejection as he is the one. However, although both refuse to accept no, they team up to try to prevent the insidious enemy from abducting the recently liberated children a second time.

The latest, as always, great Sentinel Wars romantic urban fantasy (see Blood Hunt) is a superb paranormal suspense. The story line is action-packed from the moment Jackie chooses and never slows down until the final confrontation. Readers will appreciate this exciting thriller as two courageous opposites, ethically uber-optimistic Jackie and morally ultra-pessimistic Iain must choose.

Harriet Klausner