Sunday, October 4, 2009

Finding the Lost-Shannon K. Butcher

Finding the Lost
Shannon K. Butcher
Onyx, Nov 2009, $7.99
ISBN: 9780451412829

Eight years ago, the Synestryn insectoid monsters destroyed her family when she was a child. Andra Madison vowed to hunt down these six foot insectoid nightmares and kill every one of them. As she has matured, Andra modified her goal in honor of her sister Nika, whose mind went when the deadly intrusion occurred; instead of just killing she obsessively needs to rescue abducted children snatched by the insidious Synestryn.

After centuries on the frontlines, Sentinel Theronai Paul fears he is losing his soul as time is running out for him to find his lifemate. He makes a deal with Logan the Bloodhunter; in return for some of his Sentinel blood, the hunter helps him find his woman. In Omaha they roughly save Andra during her rescue of young Sammy. Paul knows she is his female Theronai, but she rejects his advances as her only thought is for the dying fearful Nika even as the Synestryn who murdered her family is coming for her.

The second Sentinel War urban fantasy (see Burning Alive) is a terrific grim thriller with the romantic subplot playing a strong supporting role. The cast is powerful as the audience will feel every emotion that Andra feels from fear for her sister to fear for her falling in love. FINDING THE LOST is a dark tale as Shannon K. Butcher paints a forbidding gloomy landscape in which an ancient war between humanity’s guardians and their nasty adversaries heats up in Nebraska.

Harriet Klausner

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