Title: Binding Ties
Series: Sentinel Wars, Book 9
Author: Shannon K. Butcher
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: review copy provided via NetGalley
Published: March 3, 2015 by Signet
Lyka Phelan is a Slayer, sent to live among her enemy to guarantee lasting peace with the Theronai. Yet she has a secret—and it could make her a slave to their power. But when a pack of Synestryn destroys her home and captures her packmates, Lyka realizes her freedom is a small price to pay for the safety of her people. So she strikes a bargain with the leader of the Theronai—one that reveals her true identity and binds her to him forever.
Joseph thought he knew better than to tangle with the beautiful, hot-blooded Lyka. One misstep could send their races straight back to war. But now he has no choice other than to help her. Forced to protect her with his life, Joseph finds himself increasingly drawn to Lyka. As they risk everything in their fight against the demons, he realizes he must convince her to surrender to him completely—otherwise she will never truly be his.
Reviewed by: J9
In a Nutshell: Why have the heroines in this series gotten so mean? Lyka is the worst yet!
Why I Read This Book: Once I start a series I have a difficult time stopping it so I just keep reading.
What I Liked: I love Joseph. Series readers will know him as the long-suffering and patient leader of the Theronai community. He’s loyal and kind, even when he’s under great stress both as a leader, and as a Theroni because he has no woman to channel the power he houses. When Lyka was originally introduced into the series a few books back, I liked the way she awakened Joseph and that continued here. It was awesome to see Joseph in action, fighting, since in previous books he always had to stay in the Theronai city to protect and lead. This book shows a darker side of Joseph that I really liked.
What I Also Liked: I love the community of Theronai and them battling the evil Synestryn. Beloved characters and couples return here, especially the leader of the Vampires who are begrudging allies of the Theroni. Sure, the actual fight scenes are a little tedious but they serve a good purpose of progressing both the book’s plot (saving Lyka’s brother) and the series’ plot (battling the Synestryn).
What I Didn’t Like: Geesh! Lyka was a BEEP! She was so consumed by her need to be a warrior that she was willing to hurt Joseph over and over and over again. She’d been living with the Theroni for months and seen firsthand how kindly Joseph treated humans, Theroni, children and others so why she would constantly assume the very worst about him, I didn’t get. Again and again Joseph put Lyka’s needs and desires above his own and she was willing to kill him to get her freedom until the novel’s end. I couldn’t stand Lyka and wished poor Joseph got someone kinder to him. Even Lyka’s great epiphany at novel’s end wasn’t enough to redeem her in my eyes.
IMO: Series readers like me will have to read this novel but others should skip this because Lyka is a wench.
J9’s Rating:
J9’s reviews for other books in this series:
Dying Wish, Book 6
Falling Blind, Book 7
Willing Sacrifice, Book 8
Eeesh. Sorry to hear you didn't like this one. It's hard to really enjoy the story when you are so annoyed with the MC.
ReplyDeleteKristin @ Book Sniffers Anonymous
Oh that is tough about the heroine. I hate it when that happens...There have been books I have read that the reason I couldn't enjoy it was because of the personality issues with the heroine. Some authors make them so mean and horrible.
ReplyDeleteThis is a series I have been wanting to try. I supposed there is always going to be a bad apple among a long running series, but like you, once I start, I have to read them all!
ReplyDelete