Customer Reviews

Running Scared: The Sentinel Wars

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

 

 

Lexi had been running for a long time, but she'd decided to stop and allow herself to be captured, so that she could save her friend Helen from the Sentinels. Her mother had warned her about the Sentinels, but Lexi knew that if her friend Helen had any chance of escaping them, then Lexi was that chance. She was willing to take the risk. For Helen. Zack had been tracking her for weeks, and it was easy to let him find her.

Zack knew Lexi was his life-mate. The problem was convincing her of it. She somehow had gotten the wrong idea about him, and about the Sentinels in general. So when Lexi calls, sounding desperate and alone, Zack doesn't hesitate to rush to her rescue.

As soon as Lexi and Zack get together, sparks begin to fly. Author Shannon K. Butcher has created another page-turner in the Sentinel series with RUNNING SCARED (which will be released May 2010). I couldn't wait to receive this book, and I was not disappointed! The plot is fast-paced, the characters are well-written and very real, and the settings are wonderfully detailed. I couldn't put the book down once I'd begun reading, and read the entire book in one sitting. I'll be looking forward to reading the next book in the series, LIVING NIGHTMARE, which will be released in November.

I loved the previous two books of this series and was counting the days until "Running Scared" came out, but it took me a few days to finish it, unlike the other two books that I scarfed down in an afternoon. Like the previous poster, I got tired of Lexie's previous brain washing. I respect Shannon Butcher's theme of the difficulty of seeing the present, it's just that it went on too long.

But my REAL objection of this book was that it was same old, same old. Yeah, yeah, we have the paranormal who knows that this woman is his eternal mate (only instead of his seeing color once more, he's no longer in pain) and her resistance, we have the species that cannot reproduce, and there's a conspiracy to kill the paranormals who protect the world. Yada, yada. We get it. Shannon Butcher is too creative an author, capable of giving Patricia Briggs a run for her money (high praise!), to rely on what has now become a cliche. She needs to get out of the box.

In this third installment of the Sentinel Wars series, Zach finally catches the elusive Lexi. Having had chased her for months and worrying for her safety, especially after her last frantic phone call, Zach was elated to find her. On the other hand, Lexi didn't want to be found, but when the Defenders, a group opposed to the Sentinels, asked for her help, she allowed Zach to find her. Her plan was to drive her car to the Sentinel compound and explode the C4 she had rigged in her trunk.

Of course, her plans didn't work out as well she had planned.

Zach confused her emotions and she was terrified of the possibility of him brainwashing her. She doesn't know what to believe. Will Zach persuade her to see the truth behind the Sentinels and the war they fight or will she remain blind?

Running Scared is an incredibly emotional story. The book is told extremely well from the perspectives of each character, focusing on their emotions. I felt angry and relieved for Zach. I could understand Lexi's frustration and confusion. In addition, other characters had intriguing stories that played upon the feelings of the reader.

Although I became teary eyed at least once during the course of this book, I cannot give Running Scared highest marks. I found the pacing uneven and many chapters told from the perspectives of secondary characters slowed, or abruptly stopped, the flow of the book. I found these chapters occasionally enjoyable but more often than not annoying and unnecessary.

My overall impression of Running Scared is favorable because I tend to enjoy books that focus on the characters. Unfortunately, the erratic pacing took away some of the emotional impact of this intriguing book. I still recommend reading Shannon K. Butcher, but I suggest reading her excellent romantic suspense novels before venturing into her paranormals.

BookingIt Grade: B+

It started off somewhat strong, but I got bored, fast. This third book is basically the same story as the previous two. The sentinals must have a mate to live (already been done, twice). Did I say that already? See how boring that is?

I would have given this story three stars, but I found Lexi soooo annoying. The entire premise of the book surrounds how she believes the sentinals to be evil and brainwashing everyone. Then she sticks to this throughout the entire book and despite everyone she meets and everyone she enounters. Again...boring. What was there to love about her? Yet, Zach follows her around like a lovesick puppy dog and forgives everything she does. Why? If this is all he knows about her can you love someone on the sole bases that you need them to live? Perhaps, but it sounds a whole like it would be a hollow kind of love.

Half way through the book I begin skimming and looking for the very LITTLE tidbits on the vampires and what they were planning. Plus, Madoc and Torr and how they were doing, but those parts of the story were so very minimal. I'll read the next for the simple fact that it is Madoc's story, but I hope Butcher works more on her plot and less on her romance. I don't think romance is her strong point.

Running Scared by Shannon K Butcher

You may want to try to read this first before you've tried any of the other books; and while there is enough information in it and details to make it possible to be read alone, I would not suggest it. It is much more satisfying to read them together, but perhaps putting a month or so between each book.

This is the third book in the Sentinel series and if you do as I have been doing and reading them back to back, you may find yourself less than thrilled with what is essentially a great series. Read back to back each book starts seeming like a copy of the last one. Running Scared did take the story in a bit of a different direction and introduce some surprising elements to the readers and that was quite pleasing. It was fun meeting up with the girls Helen and Lexi's Father and Ms Butcher will be able to take the series in a different direction on that alone. Unfortunately, we did not get to read much about past secondary and tertiary characters, so I'm hoping that their stories will be huge ones.

The hero's and heroines are the ones I have a problem with - the story for each set seems so similar in that the men meet the women vow no matter what the women will never leave them and the men even become willing to do nefarious things to make the women stay. The women don't trust the men so they keep making deals with the men. As the reader you know it will all work out in the end, but at this point in time I would like to see things progress a little differently.

I have just started "Living Nightmare" and I am happy to see that so far things may not work out between Nika and Madoc the way these relationships have in the past books.

While there may not be tons of action filled into every page (and thank god for that) there still manages to be a lot going on and with each book in the series more and more secrets are being revealed with each book

There is hope that this series will not become stagnant and a one note wonder. And, since in this book Lexi is working for what appears to be the humans that work for the Synestryn. Not a fun thing to be involved with as you will soon see.. Moreover, Lexi is going to explain how Helen has been brainwashed and the Sentinels are really the horribly bad guys.

There are some very exciting moments in this book and I highly recommend it to anyone who has been following this series.

The Sentinel Wars series continues to boast sexy, tattooed, sword-wielding hunks for heroes, strong heroines, amazing worldbuilding, and a great cast of secondary characters.

RUNNING SCARED is no different.

Lexi Johns has been running away from Zach, because her mother's journal warns her to. The Sentinels are said to be evil men, and they wanted her blood and drain her dry. However, in an effort to rid the world of these evil men, she has decided to stop running and let Zach catch up with her. She also needed to rescue her friend, Helen, who was brainwashed and imprisoned in the Sentinels' compound.

Zach has his work cut out for him. Not only did he have to set Lexi straight, he had to do it before the last leaf fell from his lifemark, and he only had a little time left...

In each of the three books (BURNING ALIVE, FINDING THE LOST and now this, RUNNING SCARED), we have heroes who are on the verge of dying and they needed to find the woman who would wear their luceria, siphon off their power (and pain) and enable them to continue living. Sounds like the same ol', same ol' (as Madoc would say), and I wish I could say I'm tired of this storyline, but sorry to disappoint, I can't say it! Although the heroes' situations are all the same (in fact, all the Theronai males' situations are the same, so I guess I'll see more of the same in the next books), the actual story and the heroines' circumstances are rather different, which detract from the heroes' similar situations. And really, having such sexy hunks for heroes, who'll do anything to make their ladies happy, who can't deny their ladies anything, who would tire of reading such?

I didn't like Lexi at first, because she's in dire opposition to the good guys (whom I absolutely love, of course. Hey, they keep me safe from those nasty Synestryn demons!). But the author did a good job of writing her character, as she was completely true to her beliefs and act in accordance to such. Slowly, I grew to like her, because of this very quality -- that she stands for what she believes in, even if it might mean her death. However, she also has eyes and does not lack for common sense and a good heart. She's also not afraid of admitting her mistake. I like that about her, and I like how the author chose to resolve Lexi's situation.

Zach is just so sigh-worthy! Honestly, these Theronai are just spoiling me! He's so patient with Lexi, and even though she betrayed him, he has nothing on his mind but to protect her. Sigh sigh sigh. Good ones. On the other hand though, they are just too good to be true, and that made them just a little smidge "not real", jarring me a little out my blissful haze. I mean, we get all these fantasy men like Zach (hunky and gorgeous and kind and thoughtful and patient and a great lover, to boot!), and we all know he doesn't exist in real life, but we're willing to suspend that disbelief for the duration of the book, so please, don't do anything to wake me up to reality sooner than I want. Make him sexy and all that, sure, but keep him real.

Any book in The Sentinel Wars series wouldn't be complete without a look at the secondary characters. I have to admit that they drew me to read onward as much as the main characters. I can't help but want to know what's going to happen with Grace and Torr, Nika and Madoc. I have a guess as to why Madoc's luceria didn't swirl with colors when it's near Nika, but let's see if I'm right when I come to the next book, LIVING NIGHTMARE, which I'm absolutely dying to read! Ms Butcher has teased me enough about these two, and I'm glad I don't have to wait further than a trip to the bookstore. We also have some rather fantastic revelations going on, which move the series arc onward.

This series is a must read for all paranormal fans!

Reviewed by Silver

for The Romance Reviews

I loved the premise of the Sentinels; 3 races (sentinels, vampires, shapeshifters) sent from another world to protect the portal to that world from evil beings who seek to use Earth as a pass thru to that world. I like the development of the vampire conspiracy to develop an alternate blood supply, the spy within the Dibyr compound, the Band of the Barren and alot more. Compared to that, the story of the sentinel (Zack) and his lady (Lexi) is boring. Lexi is particularly aggravating because she is so dumb and indecisive. The Madoc and Nika romance is furthered in this book and another is started between Grace and Torr. But I'm not feeling them. The sentinel men all seem so similiar in what they want and their reactions to the women. The women are all Mary Sues. I don't think romance is this writer's strength. I think Butcher should focus on developing her world.

I just recently discovered the Sentinel Wars series by Butcher, and have made quick work of the first three books. The world of the Sentinels and Synestryn continues to unfold nicely in "Running Scared", and I hope that the origin of the races will continue to be revealed. Although Butcher's Sentinel world doesn't seem as involved as JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood or Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters, I think future books might benefit from a glossary of terms at the beginning of the books.

However, I digress. "Running Scared" is a solid 4 stars for non-stop action, romance and suspense. The main characters, Zach, and Lexi, appeared in the first book, "Burning Alive", and their story is just as explosive. Without giving too much away, Zach and Lexi's HEA comes to a satisfying conclusion, while opening up some new questions about the origins of the Sentinel's "ladies", and giving a hint of characters to come. I look forward to the next book in the series, and can't wait to see what happens with Madoc and Nika.

Human Lexi Johns believes that her human friend Helen Day was brainwashed by Drake the Theronai warrior (see Burning Alive) as she knows his species is her worst nightmare. As a child Helen had it drilled into her constantly how deadly dangerous the evil Theronai are; her fears mount as she thinks Zach the Theronai warrior stalks her.

She is right about Zach although wrong about his motive. Zach knows she is his bond mate and he wants to persuade her they belong together but hesitates as he knows she loathes his kind. As he considers acceptance of his disastrous fate if he fails to make it with Lexi, they finally meet. However, he is unaware that she has joined his race's enemy the Defenders of Humanity in order to use him to destroy the Theronai encampment. Meanwhile Lexi has second thoughts about the evilness of the Theronai as Zach is kind and caring, but it may be too late to change sides after years of being brainwashed that his kind are the wicked.

The latest Sentinel War romantic urban fantasy is a superb fresh entry due to the heroine whose extremism is similar to Helen but deeper into her soul so that unlike Helen, Lexi cannot be labeled a star-crossed lover; while Zach is similar to Drake. Still the key to the saga is that the two other species (besides the humans) seem genuine and their hostilities are exciting. Yet in spite of the cross species war, the fast-paced story line belongs to the human female who puts Pink Floyd meaning to brainwashing once she meets Zach in person. Shannon K. Butcher provides a terrific suspense filled thriller.

Harriet Klausner

I love how the heroines are being presented in the Sentinel Wars series. SPOILERS: Helen, Lexi, and Jackie are half sisters and Andra, Nika, and Tori are their cousins.

I love how Lucien, Helen's and Lexi's father showed at the end and told them they are sisters. I am looking forward to meet Jackie in the future (in book 4) I would love to see these 3 sisters come together and save the world.