Customer Reviews

Finding the Lost: The Sentinel Wars

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have to say that Burning Alive was my all time favorite debut novel this year. I was so excited when Finding the Lost came out I was preying that Shannon K. Butcher still spunked up her heroine and let the bad guys run wild. Well she did. This heroine is Andra whose very family was torn apart by the monsters, her youngest sister was taken, her middle sister is mentally scarred and rarely lucid, and she is fighting off the every growing nightmares added to her life with each child she can't find or save. Now for our tormented hero (Which by the way I absolutely love the tree of life tattoos and what they signify... so unique!) who is Paul, one of Drake's friend and on his last leaf so to speak. He's so determined to find his lady that he asks a blood sucking leech for help.

Unfortunately for him his destined mate is none other then demon killer Andra whose soul purpose in life is to protect and help her sister Nika. Paul understands he's being used, but is unable to prevent himself from taking Andra's measly vow of three days.... at least it's three days of pain free living and staying beside a beautiful woman. Normally I would say that three days is no time at all to meet and fall inlove with some one. But you throw in a war, a stolen child, Sybil's ever dreary foreshadows, and Madoc running havoc (Haha), you have an interesting mixture that can definitely move that process right along.

I love how fast the plot line moves along and how the romantic scenes are cherries on the cake, not the whole cake itself. I'm still really curious as to what Gilda did that was so bad to her race? I'm thinking maybe.... no I can't say because I might be right then get yelled at for adding spoilers to future books ;-P

Butcher definitely has a talent in spicing up war, and doesn't add unnecessary F-bombs or outrageous slang just to prove her males are hip. I cannot wait to find out about Lexi and Zach as well... yes there are many little allusions toward them. Give her a try if you liked the beginning of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, any of Lara Adrian's books, or the earlier Ghost Walkers.

Sentinal warriors, although powerful beyond belief, must join with their life-mate before the last leaf on their life tree is gone. Paul, a warrior of the Sentinals, has only one leaf left on his life tree. If he doesn't find his "lady" quickly, he will wither and die in only a matter of days. Unfortunately, compatible women are in very short supply.

Logan, a vampire bloodhunter, has tracked one of these rare woman down - for a blood price of course - but Paul is uncertain that the woman will be compatible, or even willing, to become his life-mate.

Andra has been battling monsters for years, ever since the monsters killed her mother and abducted her youngest sister. Now, Andra tracks the lost children who have been stolen by these monsters, and returns them to their parents, although she's never been able to find her own baby sister. It's a dangerous, ugly job, but since most people don't believe in monsters, there are few others who would sign up for the task.

When Paul and Logan finally locate Andra, she's busy fighting Synestryn and in need of a little help in order to save the young boy who has been kidnapped by them. Paul is ready and willing to help, and hopeful that Andra is the "one" for him.

Andra doesn't trust the men who've shown up, but she'll take whatever she can get to help the child - and possibly save her sister. Ignoring the danger to herself, she agrees to team up with Logan and Paul - even to become bonded to Paul if that is what it takes.

Shanon K. Butcher has crafted another fast-paced exciting novel in FINDING THE LOST, the eagerly anticipated sequel to BURNING ALIVE. Her characters shine with realism, and the plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns - a real page-turner. My only complaint is that Ms. Butcher weaves the story a bit too well, making the cliff-hanger ending hard to endure. I will again be eagerly awaiting the next installment to the series

I picked up the first book in this series on a whim and got hooked. After reading the first page turning novel in a day, I quickly made time to head to the library and pick up the rest of the books in the series. They are *that* good! I plan on buying. These novels are definitely re-reads and just amazing!

The premise for the series is very original and creative. It's about three races called the Sentinels. The Sentinels protect humans from the Synestryn, who are basically demons hell bent on taking over the planet and keeping humans as cattle. Unfortunately, the demons are winning, and the Sentinels are losing their powers and decreasing in numbers. Each three of the races are dying in their own ways. These books are about how they save themselves through different ways and their fights against the demons. The characters are not cookie cutters of one another like so many other series in the paranormal field. The storylines are very interesting and keep you guessing. There's mystery, drama, romance, action, and paranormal activity. What's not to like? I was blown away. You get entangled into the story and the world Shannon K Butcher has created. The author is actually the wife of another great writer, Jim Butcher (author of the Dresden Files series)! What a great team! Very addicting series. Definitely a MUST read and highly recommended!

The Story
The Theronai warriors gather energy they share with a mate so the female theronai can use the energy for magic against the Synestryn. The females were all killed many many years ago. Now they are finding theronai females out in the real world. Paul is searching for his mate. Theronai males are born with a life tree on their body, if the tree runs out of leaves they will have no conscious. Paul is close to the end, he needs to find his mate. He runs into Andra in a Synestryn nest, he saves her. Paul and Andra stick together to save her sister, Nika. Andra must decide if she wants to stay in his world or not.

Thoughts
This was fast paced and interesting. We learn more of the Theronai and their history. Andra is likeable, strong, loyal, and fierce. I liked learning more of the sub characters. There is a lead on people from the next book, their story started in the first book. I look forward to that one. I liked Paul and Andra together. Paul is almost too proud/honorable for his own good. This book wasn't bogged down with world building or anything. Good addition to this paranormal romance series.

Absolutely love Shannon Butcher's books! Shannon and her husband, Jim Butcher, make allot of money off me, since they are both fabulous authors. I really hope she writes a great deal more!

Andra Madison is a purposeful woman with a mission: she saves lost kids. Kind of the first female Terminator! If you are thinking she does this because of some personal trauma you'd be right. She never takes a promise lightly and is willing to give everything she has, including her life, to save a child. So far she's been doing this on her own without any help, but all that is about to change. Paul is a Sentinel whose job it has been all these long centuries is to keep humans safe. When fate, kismet, or design causes Paul and Andra's to meet Paul realizes Andra is the one who can save him.

I really liked the story, the world, and the characters. It compares to many of my favorite series.

I loved how strong Andra was -- with a kick you-know-what attitude and a remarkable purpose that drives her and allows her to disregard her own personal risk. She's someone any of us who dream about standing up for those who can't would want to be. Incredibly likable and imminently power affirming.

Paul is a traditional alpha male. Only the best authors can do strong alpha female and male characters without making the whole novel go completely south. Ms. Butcher has this talent. You don't feel confused and the characters are believable. Instead of the concept of a damsel in distress Andra and Paul are more like comrades. As with all good series the secondary characters are rich and serve to enrich your understanding of the world of the Sentinels as well as being an introduction to future main characters in the series.

This book has far more action than the norm and it moves lightning fast. Your mind will be racing quicker than the plot to keep up with everything going on. Talk about engaging!

It is very easy to be seduced into the world of the Sentinels. I am. You can be too. Pick this one up!

this book was a very good continuation of the series. i look foward to reading the next book.

The second in the Sentinel Wars begins with Andra doing what she feels she must do: rescuing little kids from the Synestryn, a demon race. While she is attempting the recovery of a small boy, Paul and two of his collogues join her. Not that Paul was very interested in finding the boy. In actuality, he had been searching for Andra because she is potentially a woman to which he can mate. The Sentinels are a dying race, therefore Paul and the other Sentinels will do whatever they must to ensure they find these rare women, like Andra.

Andra and Paul have an unusual relationship. She does not trust him even though Paul would do anything for Andra. Unfortunately, she does not know that Paul is devoted to her because Paul does not disclose much about himself and his dying soul.

I found the pacing of this book strange. I felt the scenes involving Paul and Andra were not the most compelling and may have even hampered some of the pacing. Actually, I enjoyed many of the other plots that were not directly tied to the main storyline. Of course, these other story lines are far from being resolved and I look forward to reading the series for curiosity of how these arching plots end.

Generally, I liked parts of Finding the Lost, but I could never bring myself to like Andra or Paul enough to feel a connection for them. What saved the book for me were the side plots, especially the character Madoc and his story. I will pick up the next in the series believing this book was simply a bridging point from where the series began to where series needed to go in the future.

BookingIt Grade: C+

This is the second book in the series and is great. It really holds your interest. I didn't want to put it down. The bad part is when I finished it, I was very disappointed that I didn't have the next book so I could continue the story. I understand why it works that way, but hate to wait months to find out what is going to happen with the next character. Please try the series, you won't be sorry. You will be hooked from the beginning.

Paul is a warrior close to losing his soul and desperate to find another woman with whom he can bond before it's too late. Then salvation is within has grasp as Paul finds his potential mate in Andra who know nothing of the blood she carries. Andra is drawn to Paul but has no time for a relationship -she's too busy fighting the same enemy as Paul and his people. But Andra's not out to save the whole world from the evil demon Synestra, she just wants to save one small child at a time.

I really liked the idea behind Butcher's Sentinels that powerful warriors who are nobly suffering to protect the world, are suddenly given the hope a of mate who not only offers relief from pain but who can also fight along side him with an awesome power fueled by their union. This second book in the series follows Paul, who we met briefly in the Burning Alive. Much more than the first book, Butcher had lots of different threads going and the balance between the supporting threads and the ones for the leads was a bit off in that, while the story with Paul and Andra was fine, I was really intrigued by the possibility of some redemption for the doomed supporting character Madoc whose soul is already dying. And with a fair amount of time devoted to introducing other potential leading men, explaining why mates are turning up among the humans, and showing the plight of the blood drinking Sanguinar, Paul and Andra got shuffled off to the side. This hurt the romance between Paul and Andra, but certainly made me excited about the possiblity of several more books in the works - the next one's for Zack and Lexi.

I am also really interested in seeing where the subplot with Logan and the Sanguinar is going, I am hoping that they aren't going to turn out to be hidden villians despite obviously having their own agenda. I am surprised at how poorly they are treated by the warriors, when they have such worth as healers and allies and I think that a few more books into the series it would be great for Logan to get a chance at some redemption of his own.