THE COLLECTOR (Sentinel Wars) by Shannon K. Butcher-a review

THE COLLECTOR (Sentinel Wars) by Shannon K Butcher

THE COLLECTOR by Shannon K Butcher

THE COLLECTOR by Shannon K Butcher is a novella found in the anthology ON THE HUNT. Part of the Sentinel Wars series of books, The Collector considered number 3.5 in the series is Neal Etan and Vivian Rowan’s story. Like the previous novels, the Sentinels are descended from an ancient race of guardians known as the Thernai, and without a mate to absorb the excess of power to save their dying souls, the Sentinel warrior suffers immense pain and their Tree of Life-lifemark begins to lose its leaves.

Neal Etan is a warrior on the hunt. Hoping to locate the missing medallions that will save his friend Torr, Neal must convince antique’s collector Vivian Rowan that the medallions she has in her possession, will cure his friend’s paralysis. Still suffering the lingering side effects from a near –electrocution, Neal’s amped up power reserve is tapping his lifemark faster than normal, and the pain has increased exponentially. But when Vivian offers her hand in introduction, Neal’s years of pain and suffering are eased and with it the knowledge that she is his soulmate-his other half-the woman who can syphon the mounting power that Is building within his body.

Vivian Rowan has always felt alone. All her life, as an adopted child, she has never fit in. But one touch from Neal Etan, has marked her forever. There is a connection unlike anything she has ever felt. With her power to sense when something or someone is near, Vivian knows that this man is somehow connected to the many antique collectibles that she has amassed over the years. She is drawn to these ancient articles, feeling a connection to their history and lore. But Neal’s aggression and need for the medallions forces Vivian to send Neal away.

A call to Drake, another Theronai warrior reveals that now that Neal has connected with his soulmate, she is at risk for an attack by the Synestryn demons. Her protective barriers are no longer able to hide her Theronai heritage and presence in the human world. Hoping to protect his future mate, Neal arrives only to find the demons have already located Vivian. Using his skill as a warrior and the magic sword, Neal and Vivian make their escape.

But Neal is still in need of the medallions, and Vivian is not willing to acknowledge their existence. To complicate matters, the medallions have been separated and Vivian can only sense the whereabouts of one

Vivian takes Neal to Professor Reynold’s house, where she has hidden the first of the medallions, but it is too late. The Synestryn demons have already killed the professor and now Vivian blames herself for her friend’s death. When Neal finally locates the medallion, he urges Vivian to use her to locate the other antiquity, but her powers are not strong enough.

Neal, needing the connection to his mate, reluctantly offers a deal. Trying not to overwhelm his mate, Neal explains a partial history of the Sentinel Warriors who guard the gate between Athanasia and the human world, and suggests that to heighten her powers of sense, she wear his Luceria-a necklace that symbolizes the mated pair, and one that will increase their powers together.

Because The Collector is a short story, the relationship development is quick.  When Vivian agrees, Neal pledges his life to protect his mate, but she is still reticent and is not willing to pledge an eternity to the man, who may be her future. Neal knows to complete the bonding, the pair must engage is making love, but if Vivian walks away from their relationship, Neal will die- a risk he is willing to take to save the life of his friend and his mate. With her new powers, Vivian locates the second medallion at a limestone cave, but they are once again attacked by the Sgath demons. Channeling her new-found powers, Vivian draws energy from her mate, and aids Neal in his battle to save their lives and the life of his friend. Vivian and Neal’s connection, and her proclamation of love and pledge to protect her mate, the luceria colors of bronze to match, as does her new title of The Bronze Lady.

THE COLLECTOR is a wonderful short story. We were first introduced to Neal in the earlier storylines and now that he has found his mate, we hope to hear more about these characters. I always worry, that when an author writes a novella, the mated pair tend to fall by the wayside, rarely to be heard from again. But with his friend Torr still in need and the many other Sentinels still requiring mates, I am hoping for a reunion of all the warriors when we meet again. Another great story from Shannon in The Sentinel Wars series.

Reviewed by Sandy

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BURNING ALIVE (Sentinel Wars #1) by Shannon K Butcher: A Review

BURNING ALIVE (Sentinel Wars #1) by Shannon K. Butcher-a review

Every Thursday, Tynga at Tynga’s Reviews host “Daring You to Read”. Each site selects a book from a series or a stand alone (release date more than six months ago) and we ‘dare you to read’.

You can find Tynga’s Reviews at: Tynga’s Reviews

 

This week THE READING CAFE is featuring the magnificent author Shannon K. Butcher and what better way to start our week with Shannon than daring you to read the first book in The Sentinel Wars series: BURNING ALIVE.

BURNING ALIVE is Shannon K. Butcher’s first novel in the Sentinel Wars series of books. Released in May 2009, this paranormal story introduces the premise and characters behind the Sentinel Wars  series. The Sentinels are three races descended from an ancient race of guardians known as the Athanasians, who defend and protect mankind from the demons at the door. The Theronai are the protectors, the Sanguinar are the healers (as well as blood feeders) and the Synestryn-the demons. There is a lot of background information contained in Burning Alive, and hopefully I can do Shannon’s writing justice.

Helen Day is a young woman who is haunted by a dream about dying-burning alive, while a smiling man, watches her burn. When she finally meets the stranger from her dreams, she feels an immediate connection with the man.

Theronai warrior Drake, is in constant pain from the excess of power inhabiting his body, and is nearing the end of his life. His Theonai lifemark-Tree of Life-has been shedding leaves for 100’s of years, and Drake has only a few leaves remaining. Without a mate, to save his dying soul and syphon off the excess power, his Tree of Life will die, along with his soul. The lifemark is a visual gage of a soul’s health, and all of the warriors are suffering with the pain, and are running out of time. The Synestryn demons murdered most of the females over a century ago, and there have been no children produced in almost as long.

The fates intercede, while Drake and his fellow warriors (Zach and Thomas) are on the hunt for the Synestry- who are in possession of a fallen warrior’s mystical sword. With one touch from the frightened woman- all of Drake’s pain disappears, but how is he going to keep in physical contact, while fighting to save mankind? When Helen releases her hold on Drake, the return of the pain is agonizing, and the couple must figure a way to either keep their distance or return together as one. But a demon attack at Helen’s house, and the appearance of Logan, the Sanguinar, does not bode well for the couple, and they must return to the compound where the warriors live.

Logan, as a gifted healer with the ability to read memories, requires blood, and without the Gerai around (blooded human descendant from the Athanasians), Helen is the nearest candidate. When she allows Logan to feed, she is now permanently connected to the Sanguinar, and must be available for feeding whenever Logan insists. Drake is beyond angry, for his mate now has a blood debt with Logan, as well as Logan having had access to Helen’s memories, and his presence, was only necessary as a healer. The Sanguinar are considered ‘bloodsuckers’ because of their need to feed, but they are Sentinel warriors, none the less.

As the story progresses, Drake talks of the luceria-a necklace and ring combination, shared by mates. As the couple’s relationship grows, the colors within each piece, swirl into a solid color, but if one of the pair should walk away or die, the luceria would return to its’ original state. A female must agree to wear the symbol of Theronai mating, and is only able to remove the collar, by its’ intended wearer. But Drake convinces Helen, that she must agree to wear the necklace, so that he is able to protect her, should she have need. When one of the other Theronai warriors may also be compatible with Helen, he lets it be known, that Drake has not been honest with his intended mate. Without that knowledge, Drake has not been honest and must now offer Helen a means with which to end their relationship.

Meanwhile, Helen must be trained in the ways of the Theronai warriors, if she is to fight by Drake’s side. Now that the couple has started their mating, and she has accepted the luceria, Drake no longer suffers with the pain, as Helen is able to syphon his excess power. But it is Logan, who reveals to the Gray Lady, a queen of sorts, that Helen is not all that she seems. There are powers within Helen that have yet to be released, but something is holding her back-buried so deep, that she is unable to use the powers within.

As the Theronai warriors pledge their honor and protection to the newest female, Drake and the others are convinced that Helen is not a mere human, but perhaps a descendant or product of a human/Theronia interaction. But, the story evolves, and their history of no children and no females reveals, that Helen never had knowledge of her father.

A death of a warrior, a young female seer and a missing waitress named Roxi, add plenty of background information for the reader. But the dream of burning alive-still haunts Helen, and only when she is told, that the fire is ‘within her’ to control, does she realize her dream may very well come true. A lesson in power, from the Gray Lady and a vision from a young child, haunt Helen’s dreams- a fight with fire, that could very well end Drake’s life. Without the ability to control her internal flames, Helen could destroy the man, who has become her life. But her life with Drake takes on new meaning when their luceria colors turn a matching red, as does her title as The Red Lady.

BURNING ALIVE is a wonderful debut book in the Sentinel Wars series. There is an eclectic mixture of demons, warriors, sword fights, sexual tension, passion and some humor. The Hall of the Fallen will bring a tear to your eye, and the death of a warrior, will be forever etched in your soul. As with every debut book in a serial storyline, Burning Alive was filled with plenty of background information and character introductions, that you know will evolve into something even bigger. Burning Alive is a great start to Shannon K Butcher’s Sentinel Wars series. 

Reviewed by Sandy

READING ORDER:  The Sentinel Wars

Burning Alive (May 2009)
Finding the Lost (November 2009)
Running Scared (May 2010)
On the Hunt – “The Collector” (February 2011)
Living Nightmare (November 2010)
Blood Hunt (August 2011)
Bound by Vengeance (February 2012)
Dying Wish (March 2012)

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Shannon K. Butcher New Releases

Shannon K. Butcher New Releases

Bound by Vengeance: The Sentinel Wars, Novella

Due to be released in February 7, 2012, Bound by Vengeance, which occurs right before Dying Wish (Novella in The Sentinel Wars series)

The Sentinel Wars, Book Six

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, a beautiful but damaged Sentinel may be a warrior’s last hope…

Jackie Preston has been rescued by the Theronai from her captivity and torture at the hands of the Synestryn. All she wants is to be left alone, but that isn’t possible — not when 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 for him — that his soul is already as dead as his former betrothed, killed by the Synestryn. Still, he is the only man Jackie feels a measure of peace around, the only one she wants. But is Iain indeed beyond saving?

Due to be released in March 2012, Dying Wish, is book six of The Sentinel Wars and follows the novella called Bound by Vengeance.

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