In order to keep the peace between the Slayers and the
Theronai, each side has sent an emissary from their group
to the other group. Lyka Phalen is the emissary the
Slayers sent, though she thinks of it as more like being
a hostage. Things might not be so bad for Lyka if it
wasn't for the secret she was hiding. A secret so big
that if the Theronai ever found out, she knows they'd
never let her leave them. However, when Synestryn's
attack her home and capture some of her people, Lyka is
willing to sacrifice anything to rescue them, even her
freedom.
From the moment Lyka came into the Theronai compound,
Joseph has been aware of her. Joseph knows better than to
get involved with the alluring Slayer but something
always draws him to her. When Lyka bargains to bind
herself to Joseph in return for help in rescuing her
people, Joseph knows he can't refuse. He'll do everything
he can to help Lyka and her people but Lyka's refusal to
fully commit to Joseph may end up costing both these
warriors their hearts and their lives.
When it comes to suspenseful storytelling and emotionally
charged characters, it doesn't get much better than
Shannon K. Butcher. BINDING TIES, the ninth book in the
Sentinel Wars series, pairs up a Slayer and a
Theronai,
sworn enemies now working together thanks to a peace
treaty and their own need for each other. A perfect blend
of paranormal and urban fantasy, Butcher is a master
storyteller who knows how to keep a reader hooked to a
series.
On par for Butcher, we get plenty of teasers about the
other characters populating her world while the main
focus is on Joseph and Lyka. I love that I never feel
like Butcher bogs down her stories in an attempt to set
up other books. Everything is weaved through to such
perfection that it just seems natural to have certain
things unfold at certain times. If you love books that
are full of sizzling action, danger and romance, BINDING
TIES is guaranteed to provide that and much more.
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 warrior must protect his onetime
enemy—without succumbing to his darkest desires.
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.