Rating: 2 1/2 stars

For as long as Helen Day can remember she has been haunted by a vision of her own death. She has seen herself, engulfed by flames, while an unknown man calmly watches, doing nothing to help her. When she comes face-to-face with the unknown man in a diner she panics, afraid that her life is finally counting down to the end, and she can't stop it.

Drake is a Theronai warrior, one of the Sentinel races of beings that protect mankind, though their existence is largely a secret. Theronai males carry an immense amount of painful power and the only outlet, Theronai females, are nearly extinct. When he meets Helen, Drake feels an immediate lessening of his pain. Unfortunately her mortal terror of him makes it difficult to start a conversation. Helen's choice is taken away from her though, when the Theronai's enemies, the Synestryn, attack the diner. Helen is forced to flee with Drake, his companions, and Miss Mabel, an elderly friend of Helens.

What follows is a hellish journey as Helen learns more about what Drake does, and who she might really be. As with most visions, what she has seen may have more to it then she ever thought. Conquering her fear of fire, and learning to embrace it, may be the only thing that saves her, and Drake.

The basic idea of the story, while not terribly original, is interesting and well-played. The problem arises with the characters. They are the stock-in-trade hero and heroine that have become so common in this genre; the uber-fragile femme with an untapped core of strength and the virile warrior who must posses her at all costs. It's a scenario that has been played out time and again and this retelling offers nothing new. While this may be what draws some readers, it isn't enough to hold interest for more then a few chapters. Things may improve in subsequent books but as of now, the future for this one is grim.
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Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Onyx (May 5, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451412710
ISBN-13: 978-0451412713