Burning Alive (Sentinel Wars, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Feb 16, 2009 Shawna rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2009-reads, i-read-no-longer-own-sold-swapped, tattoos-piercings-body-art, im-a-cover-hottie-ho, hero-mix-of-alpha-beta, pnr-paranormal-romance, hero-abused-scarred-tortured-angst, captive-kidnapped-hostage-slave, hero-im-gaga-over, pnr-angeldemon-fae-magic-witch-misc

4 stars – Paranormal Romance

This is the first book in a unique, promising new PNR series about sword wielding, tree of life tattoo bearing immortal Sentinel warriors fighting a demon race called Synestryn to protect humanity and guard the gateway to an ancestral world called Athanasia.

Theronai Sentinel warrior Drake has been fighting in the brutal war with the Synestryn for centuries, and now it seems that they are waging a losing battle and the demons are gaining the advantage. With the loss o 4 stars – Paranormal Romance

This is the first book in a unique, promising new PNR series about sword wielding, tree of life tattoo bearing immortal Sentinel warriors fighting a demon race called Synestryn to protect humanity and guard the gateway to an ancestral world called Athanasia.

Theronai Sentinel warrior Drake has been fighting in the brutal war with the Synestryn for centuries, and now it seems that they are waging a losing battle and the demons are gaining the advantage. With the loss of all females of the Theronai race, the warriors are unable to find life mates to bond with and are slowing dying off as a result of eventually succumbing to the violence and intensity of their power. The Sentinels are starting to lose hope, but then Drake encounters human woman Helen and feels an immediate, potent connection that could alter the delicate future for their race, forever.

All her life, Helen’s had a vision of her own death, burning alive, as a mysterious, dark, mesmerizing stranger watches with a smile on his face. So when she meets the enigmatic man from her dreams, warrior Drake, she fears that her doomed fate is at hand, but Drake refuses to believe that her vision of the future will come to pass and vows to protect her at all costs. Will the profound, passionate bond between Drake and Helen save them both? Can Helen bring much needed hope to the Theronai and restore the fragile balance to the Sentinel wars?

I’ve read and enjoyed Shannon K. Butcher’s romantic suspense Delta Force trilogy, and Burning Alive is a good debut read in a paranormal romance series that holds a lot of promise. There’s a nice balance of world building, explosive, fast-paced action, violent, gritty, demon ass-kicking, intense, steamy, passionate romance, and even some humorous quips by Helen that provide some comic relief. Drake is a strong, courageous, fierce, loyal, sexy, and tender warrior and makes a totally swoon-worthy hero. There are several warriors introduced in this that I can quite easily envision as heroes in upcoming books in the series. I’ll definitely read the next book, Finding the Lost, that’s slated for release in Nov’09! 4 stars!
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Jan 17, 2010 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it it was ok

Two and a half stars would probably be fairer. I'm not a huge fan of the fated mate thing but I quite liked the complications of Helen and Drake in getting together. I did wish a few times that Helen would get a grip on herself - a little too much angst.
Some strong similarities to Feehan's Carpathian series though a lot more readable.
What bugged me most is since the Synestryn already had the sword and all they had to do was break it - why didn't they? I would have thought it would be the first ...more

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