Living Nightmare: The Sentinel Wars [Mass Market Paperback]

Shannon K. Butcher (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 2, 2010 | Series: sentinel Wars (Book 4)

View our feature on Shannon Butcher’s Living Nightmare.

For nine years, the Sentinel 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 on that terrible night is fading, and time is running out. But the one man who can unlock the power inside her may be the greatest danger to her.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Nika Madison will go to any lengths to prove that her sister Tori is not dead, but rather a prisoner of the monstrous Synestryn. When Nika escapes the Sentinels’ stronghold to dig up the bones purported to be Tori’s remains, she is attacked by ravening sgath. Madoc, a Theronai warrior who is close to losing his soul, saves her. Nika is horribly pained by the touch of Theronai men who hope the blood in her veins is their redemption, but she finds Madoc’s touch enjoyable. When Tori, pregnant by an evil monster, realizes her captor is using her to lure Nika, she tries to sever their psychic link. But Nika is determined to save her sister before she gives birth, and finds new strength through a bond with Madoc that thrusts them and the other Sentinels into a violent and bloody battle. Myriad characters, multiple subplots, complex relationships, and overwhelming love build to a kaleidoscopic climax. The fourth book in Butcher’s Sentinels series continues to unite couples and forces of good against the demonic forces of evil. --Diana Tixier Herald

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: 368 pages
• Publisher: Signet; Original edition (November 2, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451232372
• ISBN-13: 978-0451232373
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 1.2 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,536 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

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Nika and Madoc - I love bad boy redemption - but their story is just one of many November 2, 2010

By melindeeloo TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Madoc is a warrior on the brink of losing his soul. Drawn inexplicably to a fragile woman who is not his mate, he fights his attraction to Nika by keeping his distance and works only to save her from the demons who have haunted her mind and have left her first comatose and then for awhile nearly insane. But Nika is much better now and she's fighting to leave that fragile woman behind. And it is Nika's strength and determination that will allow her to stand up for what she believes against Madoc and the rest of the Sentinels, and to fight for not only Madoc's salvation but also to save the sister everyone else has given up for dead.

I have been anticipating Madoc's redemption/salvation and was happy to seeing how things played out between him and Nika. There is just something about a tough bad boy warrior who has a soft spot for the one woman who makes him want to be more than he is and makes him want to have more than he feels he deserves. Even though the pair didn't get as much screen time as I would have liked, on the whole I enjoyed Nika and Madoc's story. They do have one scene though that comes pretty close to crossing a line and it is only Nika's opinion of the event - which we see after and not during - that keeps it from being something else entirely.

I liked Living Nightmare but it is definitely not a story for those new to the series. With multiple threads and four or five stories going on in addition to the main romance, Living Nightmare was really an ensemble piece and most all of the characters and the set ups for their vignettes were done in previous books. One thread with Grace - whose hopeless relationship with the crippled warrior Torr has been has been an intriguing subplot for several books - offers some poignant moments here.... But for readers who have been following the series, all of those threads mean that we finally get answers to some of the mysteries in the Sentinel world, including just what the Sanguinar (vampire/healers) are up to, and why the seer twins are stuck in childhood.

Despite the challenge for new readers, the good thing about having all those irons in the fire is that it is clear that Butcher is going to be able to keep the series going for quite a while and she has again left me anticipating the next installment, Blood Hunt, which is (Sanguinar) Logan's book. I am really happy to get his story, but hopefully there will also be at least a small glimpse what happens next to Grace and Torr - It's going to be hard to wait until summer of 2011 Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Living Nightmare-A Joyfully Recommended Title!! February 14, 2011

By M. Nix

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Every Sentinel warrior has a lifemark, an ancient tree tattooed on his chest and once all the leaves fall, his soul becomes absorbed by darkness making him act on his worst fantasies. His only savior will be finding his partner, a woman with Theronai blood. Once mated the leaves of his tree will bloom once again and his soul will be free of the darkness that haunts it. If the warriors lifemark becomes barren before he finds his partner he will be executed for fear of what evil he may bring among his people.

Madoc is a Sentinel, a great warrior that has vowed to protect his race as well as the human race from evil demons called Synestryn. The last leaf of his lifemark is hanging on by a magical ring he was given from a secret society. It is getting harder to control his darker impulses every day and the last thing he needs is to be around the one woman who turns him inside out.

Nika is on a mission to save her sister Tori from the Synestryn. Only no one believes that Tori is alive. Nika and Tori were attacked nine years ago by the Synestryn. Nika's mind was fractured and until recently she was in a comatose state for the majority of the time. When the Sentinel Madoc came into her life things started to get clearer, easier for her to fight the evil inside her mind. Yet everyone still treats her as if she is crazy. Nika is determined to prove to everyone that Tori is alive and she is not crazy. She is also going to make Madoc understand that she is the woman for him and she will not take no for an answer.

It has been seven long months since Madoc visited Dabyr, where most of the Sentinels and Nika live.... In his desperate resolve to not hurt Nika or let anyone know his tree is almost barren he has stayed away, but when he gets a call telling him Nika has left Dabyr in the middle of the night, alone, he becomes terrified and furious. Of course, when he catches up with her she is surrounded by the Synestryn.

Madoc is determined to take Nika back to Dabyr and leave her there, never to return, but she refuses. This is her only chance to find her sister before it's too late and she will do everything possible to save Tori even defy the mighty Madoc. Will Nika convince Madoc to help her find Tori? Can she save Madoc before the darkness consumes him? Will they survive the evil Synestryn whose goal is to have Nika for himself?

Living Nightmare is the latest chapter in an epic adventure. Madoc and Nika are the stars of Living Nightmare but there is much more going on is book than their story alone. Shannon K. Butcher has a brilliant way of writing. Ms. Butcher weaves these magically intricate details into her novels making you want more and more. There is so much going on you might think it would be difficult to keep up but everything is sewn together like the finest silk.

I have been waiting for Madoc and Nika to find their way to each other since the second book in the series Finding the Lost and I was not disappointed with Living Nightmare. I experienced a gambit of emotion during Living Nightmare. Watching Madoc was painful, I wanted to yell at him and hug him at the same time. He believes he is doing what is right and it is heart wrenching. Nika's character has grown into this beautiful woman. My biggest fear was that she would always be this waif of a woman who needed to be taken care of and I was so happy that she has turned into a force to be reckoned with.

Living Nightmare is filled with plenty of characters old and new. I got to say hello to some people I can't wait to learn more about and goodbye to others I will miss dearly. Living Nightmare is a powerful piece of fiction I devoured in hours and can't stop thinking about a day later. It will answer your questions and ask a whole bunch more. Living Nightmare is an extraordinary action-packed thrill ride guaranteed to keep you satisfied and coming back for more.

Miranda
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Living Nightmare by Shannon K. Butcher January 16, 2011

By Urban Fantasy Investigations

Format:Mass Market Paperback

When Nika was little her sister Tori was taken by s'gath demons from there house and Nika was infected by the demons as they took her blood. The result of the blood taking left Nika's mind splintered as she is a psychic and the more s'gath demons that shared her blood the more of them that she was connected to and the more her mind splintered. Madoc is on the verge of loosing his soul and he is trying everything in his power to kill off as many of the demons that share Nika's blood as possible she she can have her mind completly back again. Although he is in love with Nika and Nika with him he refuses to be with her out of fear that he will hurt her so he has been staying away from her even though she needs him and vice versa but Nika has grown a backbone and refuses to give up.

I love Nika and Madoc together. I was so happy to see that this book was finally going to have their story as the main one. Of course there is many side snippets to other couples and going on but it all flowed together perfectly to bring a story full of action, suspense and passion. I was able to connect with the characters as I always am in Ms Butcher's stories. You defiantly need to read all the books in the series to follow along so make sure you grab book 1 Burning Alive if you haven't already read it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Butcher January 11, 2011

By kirks

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I love the sentinakle series. The first book that I read was placed in Omaha Nebraska. I grwew up right across the river in CB Iowa. It also as all the aspects of the adventure love story that moves quick and is easy to read. I can't wait to read more.