Guest Review - - Running Scared

Running Scared
The Sentinel Wars - Book #3
Shannon K. Butcher
Publisher: Onyx
Release Date: May 4, 2010

Lexi Johns is waiting. Waiting to be taken by the very beings from whom she has spent a lifetime running. The tingling of awareness grows more intensely every day, and the mark the Sentinel warrior Zach left on her skin burns as he closes in. Every instinct in her screams for her to run, but she has no choice but to stay and let him take her.

As far as Lexi is concerned, the survival of the human race depends on her being captured by the Sentinels. If she manages to infiltrate and destroy their stronghold, Lexi will succeed in freeing her brainwashed friends, avenging her mother, and finally being able to live out her life in some semblance of peace. Luckily, she has the assistance of her mother’s friend, Hector Morrow and his radical group, the Defenders of Humanity, who are hell-bent on the total destruction of the Sentinels and their monstrous pets, the Synestryn.

Zach has to find Lexi if it is the last thing he does, and it will be if she slips through his fingers again. She is his match. The only female who can channel the power building in him and prevent the destruction of his soul. Catching her proves to be the easy part. The hard part is convincing her that everything she believes about him and his race is untrue. The Sentinels are actually one of the three races responsible for protecting humans from the evil Synestryn. Unfortunately, they are fighting a losing battle. The Theronai, warriors of the Sentinel race, numbers are dwindling and their defenses are being torn down faster than they can rebuild. Their whole race needs Lexi and the magic she could wield with Zach’s power.

Once sequestered in the secret Sentinel base, Lexi’s whole world begins to unravel. Everything she was taught about the Sentinels is contradicted, and Lexi finds that she is faced with the most important decision of her life. Does she continue down the path she has always led, or does she surrender herself to the unquestionable connection with Zach and the unwavering love and trust he is offering her.

Running Scared is fast-paced, action-packed, and a wonderful third installment for Shannon K. Butcher’s The Sentinel Wars series. The world that she has created is refreshing, creative, and completely captivated me with its originality. Her imagery is fantastic, and her characters are rich, dynamic and deliciously flawed. Running Scared, as well as Burning Alive (Book 1) and Finding the Lost (Book 2), were books I couldn’t put down. I highly recommend them to anyone who loves paranormal, urban fantasy, or just a fabulously written book. The only thing that would have made it perfect for me was if a glossary was included. It took me a while to remember what everything was!

~Jenn