What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sundering #5
The Sentinel
In the fifth book of the multi-author Sundering series kicked off by best-selling author R. A. Salvatore, embittered paladin, Kleef Kenric, finds himself embroiled in a quest to stop evil forces from taking advantage of the chaos rolling across the land of Faerûn and claiming dominion over the entirety of the Forgotten Realms.
Stubbornly clinging to his family's worship of a long-forgotten god, Kleef soon discovers that his god has blessed him with divine gifts, making him one of a new group of Chosen cropping up around the Realms. This divine gift makes him an excellent ally — and a target for those who wish to corral his powers.
After battling his way out of Marsember, a city besieged on all sides in the wake of the Sundering, he becomes swept up in the mission of a group of odd allies — a warrior princess, an accomplished thief, and a mysterious short pudgy man exuding a faint odor of decay. With the forces of Shade tracking their every step, they set out to thwart the rise of the goddess of death, but before long Kleef discovers that his allies hide dangerous secrets — secrets that could destroy not only Kleef but the very fabric of the Forgotten Realms.
Stubbornly clinging to his family's worship of a long-forgotten god, Kleef soon discovers that his god has blessed him with divine gifts, making him one of a new group of Chosen cropping up around the Realms. This divine gift makes him an excellent ally — and a target for those who wish to corral his powers.
After battling his way out of Marsember, a city besieged on all sides in the wake of the Sundering, he becomes swept up in the mission of a group of odd allies — a warrior princess, an accomplished thief, and a mysterious short pudgy man exuding a faint odor of decay. With the forces of Shade tracking their every step, they set out to thwart the rise of the goddess of death, but before long Kleef discovers that his allies hide dangerous secrets — secrets that could destroy not only Kleef but the very fabric of the Forgotten Realms.
281 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
51 people are currently reading
1030 people want to read
About the author
Troy Denning
186 books663 followersAlso known as Richard Awlinson.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Den...
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Den...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
Read
April 14, 2021Immensely satisfying.
Set during the Era of Upheaval, The Sundering is a multi-author event chronicling the adventures of Faerûn’s heroes, from those just Chosen to some of the Realms' most enduring characters. Troy Denning’s novel, The Sentinel, is the penultimate entry in the series. As such, it is suitably thrilling from beginning to end.
Like many during the Era of Upheaval, Kleef Kenric has spent his life worshipping a long-forgotten god. It is said that so long as one person carries a god in their heart, that god is not dead. Helm, The Watcher, god of guardians, could not save his father. While others accept bribes and trade favours for knighthood, Kleef stubbornly clings to the tenets of his faith – coming to the defense of those who ask, leaving his career with the city guard stalled at the rank of Topsword. Kleef’s unswerving faith has turned him bitter.
While battling to win free of Marsember, Kleef accepts payment from a merchant in order to clear the way. He uses the gold to motivate the guards beneath his command to do the job they are already sworn to do. His guilt over the act is not easily rationalised but with priests holding up the evacuation with their theatrics and Shadovar threatening the city, he has little choice but to rally his men the only way he can.
Tracking the Shadovar, he comes to the aid of a mysterious pair, Joelle Emmeline and her short and odiferous companion, Malik. Kleef fights back wave after wave of Shadovar and Joelle and Malik flee across a bridge toward the noble house of Seasilver. They are observed from the balcony by Lady Arietta Seasilver, a young noblewoman who believes she is the Chosen of Siamorphe. Taking up her bow, Arietta joins the fight. Thus fate combines four destinies of four people trying to serve their gods.
The Sundering refers to the separation of Abeir from Toril. While the living (and sort of living) denizens of the world deal with the fallout of the Era of Upheaval – from the Great Rain to falling earthmotes to the literal upheaving of earth – the gods are battling for supremcy. Often, they do so through their Chosen. Joelle and Malik are on a quest for Sune. They carry the Eye of Gruumsh as a gift from one god to another. As such a gift would foil Shar’s plans for the Ever After, the Shadovar are keen to get their hands on the Eye. So are the orcs. The Eye is one of their sacred relics.
Their journey to the Underchasm is frought with adventure. Arietta sacrifices her family and Kleef feels he is sacrificing his principles for a woman who will never return his ardent regard. Joelle uses her god-given charm to ensure everyone follows her plan and Malik is obstinate in his deviancy. By the time the four arrive at Grumbar’s Temple, alliances have shifted many times – as has each companion’s idea of what it means to be Chosen.
It’s this last that really captured my attention while reading The Sentinel. Kleef’s struggle to defend his faith, to himself and those around him is heart-wrenching. In order to succeed on this quest, he has to do away with his bitterness and regret. When he finally does, I reached for the tissue box. Arietta’s journey is equally compelling. She has only been told she is the Chosen of Siamorpeh and as such, has taken her role for granted. This revelation rocks her ideas and ideals, and ultimately brings her closer to what she really wants to be.
I really enjoyed this book and as has happened every time I pick up a new volume of ‘The Sundering’, I am inspired to look for other works by the author. Troy Denning’s writing is accessible and easy to digest. I read The Sentinel in two devoted sessions, breaking only for dinner. As mentioned above, what really makes this book stand out are the characters, particularly Kleef and Arietta. Their thoughts and actions were so appropriate to their situations. At no point did either feel unreal or overwrought. Malik was fascinating in his own grimace-worthy manner. Though he is not likeable, I did manage to muster empathy for him. I’m still trying to decide how I feel about Joelle. I think perhaps she is actually the most devious and unsympathetic of that pair.
The conclusion to The Sentinel was another tissue box moment and another step forward in the world event.
‘The Sundering’ is nearly done. Only one volume remains: The Herald: The Sundering, Book VI by Ed Greenwood. Through all six books are linked only tenuously, I have enjoyed the experience of reading several stories surrounding the same event. Each has advanced the world narrative and each has introduced me to another, smaller world of characters. My only complaint would be the steadily growing pile of books behind me as I discover new authors whose voices I must further explore.
Written for SFCrowsnest.
Set during the Era of Upheaval, The Sundering is a multi-author event chronicling the adventures of Faerûn’s heroes, from those just Chosen to some of the Realms' most enduring characters. Troy Denning’s novel, The Sentinel, is the penultimate entry in the series. As such, it is suitably thrilling from beginning to end.
Like many during the Era of Upheaval, Kleef Kenric has spent his life worshipping a long-forgotten god. It is said that so long as one person carries a god in their heart, that god is not dead. Helm, The Watcher, god of guardians, could not save his father. While others accept bribes and trade favours for knighthood, Kleef stubbornly clings to the tenets of his faith – coming to the defense of those who ask, leaving his career with the city guard stalled at the rank of Topsword. Kleef’s unswerving faith has turned him bitter.
While battling to win free of Marsember, Kleef accepts payment from a merchant in order to clear the way. He uses the gold to motivate the guards beneath his command to do the job they are already sworn to do. His guilt over the act is not easily rationalised but with priests holding up the evacuation with their theatrics and Shadovar threatening the city, he has little choice but to rally his men the only way he can.
Tracking the Shadovar, he comes to the aid of a mysterious pair, Joelle Emmeline and her short and odiferous companion, Malik. Kleef fights back wave after wave of Shadovar and Joelle and Malik flee across a bridge toward the noble house of Seasilver. They are observed from the balcony by Lady Arietta Seasilver, a young noblewoman who believes she is the Chosen of Siamorphe. Taking up her bow, Arietta joins the fight. Thus fate combines four destinies of four people trying to serve their gods.
The Sundering refers to the separation of Abeir from Toril. While the living (and sort of living) denizens of the world deal with the fallout of the Era of Upheaval – from the Great Rain to falling earthmotes to the literal upheaving of earth – the gods are battling for supremcy. Often, they do so through their Chosen. Joelle and Malik are on a quest for Sune. They carry the Eye of Gruumsh as a gift from one god to another. As such a gift would foil Shar’s plans for the Ever After, the Shadovar are keen to get their hands on the Eye. So are the orcs. The Eye is one of their sacred relics.
Their journey to the Underchasm is frought with adventure. Arietta sacrifices her family and Kleef feels he is sacrificing his principles for a woman who will never return his ardent regard. Joelle uses her god-given charm to ensure everyone follows her plan and Malik is obstinate in his deviancy. By the time the four arrive at Grumbar’s Temple, alliances have shifted many times – as has each companion’s idea of what it means to be Chosen.
It’s this last that really captured my attention while reading The Sentinel. Kleef’s struggle to defend his faith, to himself and those around him is heart-wrenching. In order to succeed on this quest, he has to do away with his bitterness and regret. When he finally does, I reached for the tissue box. Arietta’s journey is equally compelling. She has only been told she is the Chosen of Siamorpeh and as such, has taken her role for granted. This revelation rocks her ideas and ideals, and ultimately brings her closer to what she really wants to be.
I really enjoyed this book and as has happened every time I pick up a new volume of ‘The Sundering’, I am inspired to look for other works by the author. Troy Denning’s writing is accessible and easy to digest. I read The Sentinel in two devoted sessions, breaking only for dinner. As mentioned above, what really makes this book stand out are the characters, particularly Kleef and Arietta. Their thoughts and actions were so appropriate to their situations. At no point did either feel unreal or overwrought. Malik was fascinating in his own grimace-worthy manner. Though he is not likeable, I did manage to muster empathy for him. I’m still trying to decide how I feel about Joelle. I think perhaps she is actually the most devious and unsympathetic of that pair.
The conclusion to The Sentinel was another tissue box moment and another step forward in the world event.
‘The Sundering’ is nearly done. Only one volume remains: The Herald: The Sundering, Book VI by Ed Greenwood. Through all six books are linked only tenuously, I have enjoyed the experience of reading several stories surrounding the same event. Each has advanced the world narrative and each has introduced me to another, smaller world of characters. My only complaint would be the steadily growing pile of books behind me as I discover new authors whose voices I must further explore.
Written for SFCrowsnest.
July 4, 2014
The Sentinel by Troy Denning is the fifth and penultimate book in the multi-author series, The Sundering and, like the previous book, The Reaver, is very reader friendly. Unlike the first few books in the series, there is no need to have read previous books by the authors to fully appreciate the story. It also finally gives the reader a better picture of what the Sundering is – the world is splitting apart and various gods, both dead and alive, are jockeying for power. They have chosen humans to represent them in the coming battles and these Chosen must fight for their god’s position in the new hierarchy.
The tale itself is fairly straightforward compared to some of the previous books in the series. There are four main characters who represent four different gods. Joelle and Malick have stolen a powerful artifact from the Orcs and must deliver it to safety to prevent the goddess, Shar and her Shadovar from gaining prominence in the world after the Sundering. As the Shadovar and Orcs close in, the pair is aided by Kleef Kenrick and Arietta Seasilver. The story revolves around the relationships that develop among the four as well as their attempts to elude their pursuers.
However, straightforward does not mean simple. There’s plenty of twists and turns, action, and betrayals, enough to satisfy the most jaded fantasy fan. But it is really the characters that make this one of the best entries in the series (I will admit to a sneaking preference for The Reavers but The Sentinel comes close). Not only the main four characters but many of the secondary characters are complex with interesting and varied backstories, range of emotions, and the ability to recognize their faults and errors and grow from them. Best of all, like The Reaver and unlike the first three books in the series, both new and old fantasy fans can read and enjoy The Sentinel without feeling like they are missing half the story.
January 5, 2025
Kleef is such a lovable himbo
May 22, 2014
The Sentinel
The Sentinel is an epic fantasy novel in The Sunder series, written by Troy Denning and published by Wizards of the Coast.
By Cape Rust
Learn more about The Sentinel here
Purchase The Sentinel: The Sundering, Book V
Find other Wizards of the Coast products here
A watchman in a corrupt city that is about to be overrun, notices a strange couple, a beautiful redhead with a weasel of a man following her. They are running from someone… it turns out that someone is a Shadowvar, one of the beings that is getting ready to overrun the city of Marsember. The watchman Kleef is a follower of the dead god Helm just as his father was before he was killed. Kleef intervenes to find that the odd couple that he spotted isn’t just being followed by one Shadowvar, but scores of them. Kleef jumps into action and quickly learns that he might have bitten off more than he can chew. Part of their daring delaying action is witnessed by Lady Arietta who decides to directly and indirectly intervene, much to consternation of her father, mother and their retainers. Due to her intervention and a series of unfortunate events, Lady Arietta’s father is killed and the family’s boat with all of their wealth and her mother have been commandeered by the remaining Shadowvar who were chasing them in the first place. Now Lady Arietta, Kleef and the mysterious couple Joelle and Malik must rescue Lady Arietta’s mother and deliver a powerful artifact to an almost inaccessible location surrounded by hostile territory.
On this surface this book is full of exactly what you would expect it to be, but Denning actually put many more subtle sub-plots into this, that while a little too social issues minded for me, bear mentioning. This is one of those stories where to me the characters really were greater than the story that they were in. In the sundering series, people getting chosen by gods to perform tasks is not uncommon, in fact it is so common that it has almost become the norm, rather than an epic quest. Normally you would think that would ruin a storyline, but this all star lineup of authors seems to have figured out individually how to make things still feel exciting.
As the story progresses we learn that Kleef the Watchman and follower of the dead god Helm posses a sword called Watcher that is much more powerful than he ever suspected. This sword and many of the feats he is able to pull off during the story make it apparent not only to the reader but to his fellow travelers that he is one of the chosen of Helm. This type of revelation isn’t a big surprise in the Sundering series, actually it is kind of commonplace. As Kleef embraces his status as a chosen, he learns at a most critical juncture that his faith isn’t as pure as he thought and that crisis of faith and how he deals with it makes him more than just your average fighter.
Joelle, the aforementioned redhead, is actually a chosen of the goddess of love, Sune. Joelle fascinated me, because like love, she was complex and unexplainable. She was not afraid to use her powers to manipulate those around her. She was mercurial almost to the point of being bi-polar and in the end followed her heart. As fascinated by Joelle as I was, she was the source of one of those social issues I eluded to earlier in this review. I will let you read the book to find out just what that issue was but I will say that while it has been done way too much in the last few years, Denning handled it really well and didn’t come off as preachy or holier-than-thou. I felt like this issue was included to complicate the entire situation and was a intriguing but interesting facet of a sub plot rather than a soapbox derby.
Lady Arietta kind of pissed me off. She thought she was a chosen, found out she wasn’t, then found out that she really was. Her crisis of faith seemed much less genuine than Kleefs. I saw where Denning was going with it, but it felt forced and her history of masquerading as a common bard made things worse. Arietta believed she was the chosen of the goddess of nobility and rulership and while noble she cavorted about Marsember as a common bard, yet expressed snooty thoughts typical of nobles at times during this story. His view of nobility roles and how she viewed it was erratic and contradictory in very strange and disjointed ways.
Malik, the previously identified as “a weasel of a man” Malik, claims to follow the long dead god of death, there are actually a few times where Denning or the character Malik slipped and revealed who he was actually working for, before the big reveal. For many readers who have spent time in the Realms, you will see it right away. I wanted to squash Malik into a little smudge, like the pest that he is, but in retrospect he was actually the most “honest” character in the book. He followed his faith and didn’t waiver from it. He stayed true to his character and didn’t apologize about who he was or what he did.
There are many other interesting characters in this story but I feel like it is important for you to get to know the main ones. As far as the plot goes, there are many things happening in this book. The good news is that the plot line is on rails and for someone reading this book for roleplaying material, it would make an awesome adventure. For people reading it just for entertainment value, I can see where they might feel like “on rails” is a bad thing, but as someone reading this novel for both aspects I was pretty happy. The character intrigue should be noted for those who grow tired of the typical hack and slash dungeon crawls. The verity of environments that Denning incorporated into the action was interesting and diverse. There was some great combat and it was good to see how Denning believed being the chosen of a god or goddess would feel, or not feel. I can’t wait to see how the legendary Ed Greenwood finishes this series out.
This Review was first posted on www.roleplayerschronicle.com
The Sentinel is an epic fantasy novel in The Sunder series, written by Troy Denning and published by Wizards of the Coast.
By Cape Rust
Learn more about The Sentinel here
Purchase The Sentinel: The Sundering, Book V
Find other Wizards of the Coast products here
A watchman in a corrupt city that is about to be overrun, notices a strange couple, a beautiful redhead with a weasel of a man following her. They are running from someone… it turns out that someone is a Shadowvar, one of the beings that is getting ready to overrun the city of Marsember. The watchman Kleef is a follower of the dead god Helm just as his father was before he was killed. Kleef intervenes to find that the odd couple that he spotted isn’t just being followed by one Shadowvar, but scores of them. Kleef jumps into action and quickly learns that he might have bitten off more than he can chew. Part of their daring delaying action is witnessed by Lady Arietta who decides to directly and indirectly intervene, much to consternation of her father, mother and their retainers. Due to her intervention and a series of unfortunate events, Lady Arietta’s father is killed and the family’s boat with all of their wealth and her mother have been commandeered by the remaining Shadowvar who were chasing them in the first place. Now Lady Arietta, Kleef and the mysterious couple Joelle and Malik must rescue Lady Arietta’s mother and deliver a powerful artifact to an almost inaccessible location surrounded by hostile territory.
On this surface this book is full of exactly what you would expect it to be, but Denning actually put many more subtle sub-plots into this, that while a little too social issues minded for me, bear mentioning. This is one of those stories where to me the characters really were greater than the story that they were in. In the sundering series, people getting chosen by gods to perform tasks is not uncommon, in fact it is so common that it has almost become the norm, rather than an epic quest. Normally you would think that would ruin a storyline, but this all star lineup of authors seems to have figured out individually how to make things still feel exciting.
As the story progresses we learn that Kleef the Watchman and follower of the dead god Helm posses a sword called Watcher that is much more powerful than he ever suspected. This sword and many of the feats he is able to pull off during the story make it apparent not only to the reader but to his fellow travelers that he is one of the chosen of Helm. This type of revelation isn’t a big surprise in the Sundering series, actually it is kind of commonplace. As Kleef embraces his status as a chosen, he learns at a most critical juncture that his faith isn’t as pure as he thought and that crisis of faith and how he deals with it makes him more than just your average fighter.
Joelle, the aforementioned redhead, is actually a chosen of the goddess of love, Sune. Joelle fascinated me, because like love, she was complex and unexplainable. She was not afraid to use her powers to manipulate those around her. She was mercurial almost to the point of being bi-polar and in the end followed her heart. As fascinated by Joelle as I was, she was the source of one of those social issues I eluded to earlier in this review. I will let you read the book to find out just what that issue was but I will say that while it has been done way too much in the last few years, Denning handled it really well and didn’t come off as preachy or holier-than-thou. I felt like this issue was included to complicate the entire situation and was a intriguing but interesting facet of a sub plot rather than a soapbox derby.
Lady Arietta kind of pissed me off. She thought she was a chosen, found out she wasn’t, then found out that she really was. Her crisis of faith seemed much less genuine than Kleefs. I saw where Denning was going with it, but it felt forced and her history of masquerading as a common bard made things worse. Arietta believed she was the chosen of the goddess of nobility and rulership and while noble she cavorted about Marsember as a common bard, yet expressed snooty thoughts typical of nobles at times during this story. His view of nobility roles and how she viewed it was erratic and contradictory in very strange and disjointed ways.
Malik, the previously identified as “a weasel of a man” Malik, claims to follow the long dead god of death, there are actually a few times where Denning or the character Malik slipped and revealed who he was actually working for, before the big reveal. For many readers who have spent time in the Realms, you will see it right away. I wanted to squash Malik into a little smudge, like the pest that he is, but in retrospect he was actually the most “honest” character in the book. He followed his faith and didn’t waiver from it. He stayed true to his character and didn’t apologize about who he was or what he did.
There are many other interesting characters in this story but I feel like it is important for you to get to know the main ones. As far as the plot goes, there are many things happening in this book. The good news is that the plot line is on rails and for someone reading this book for roleplaying material, it would make an awesome adventure. For people reading it just for entertainment value, I can see where they might feel like “on rails” is a bad thing, but as someone reading this novel for both aspects I was pretty happy. The character intrigue should be noted for those who grow tired of the typical hack and slash dungeon crawls. The verity of environments that Denning incorporated into the action was interesting and diverse. There was some great combat and it was good to see how Denning believed being the chosen of a god or goddess would feel, or not feel. I can’t wait to see how the legendary Ed Greenwood finishes this series out.
This Review was first posted on www.roleplayerschronicle.com
April 1, 2014
The Sentinel is a fun fantasy tale that sets a band of heroes on an adventure to save the world. A watchmen, a noble, a thief, and a murderer must deliver the eye of an orc god to rescue Toril from Shar’s destruction. Along the way, they fight Shadovar, orcs, ghouls and zombies, crossing oceans, forests and even the Underchasm itself. The characters keep things interesting with their shifting motivations. However, saving the world comes at a high price, and author Troy Denning keeps the reader guessing at who will pay the cost.
“There are no truths more dangerous than terrible truths,” Malik said. “Those are the kind no one wishes to see.”
Featured on the cover is one of the main characters. Kleef is a topsword in the Marsember Watch. He’s a Chosen of the god Helm. Yet his life has not been very special. The ranks of the city guard are rife with corruption. Kleef’s sense of duty and fairness has caused him to be overlooked for promotions. He has little to show for his devotion to Helm. A good fighter with a big sword, Kleef is a character who has much to discover about himself. His flaws, his god’s gifts, and the mysterious magic sword that he wields are all things he must explore.
Sadly not pictured on the cover is Arietta. This story is as much her’s as it is Kleef’s. She is a noble’s daughter and a follower of Siamorphe. Like Kleef, she goes through a journey of self-discovery. Her stout beliefs of courage, duty and leadership bring her into a quest to save the world. Unlike Kleef, though, she must make tougher sacrifices and work twice as hard to survive the adventure. Her god may grant the gift of leadership, but when it comes to combat, she must rely on herself to persevere.
“Are you truly that devoted, Malik?” Joelle finally asked. “You would die for me?”
“Die?”
“You said you were devoted,” Joelle reminded him. “Aren’t you?”
Malik hesitated. “Would dying truly be necessary?”
Then there is the thief of hearts and the Seraph of lies rounding out the team of heroes. Joelle is the Chosen of Sune, the god of love. Malik is the Chosen of Cyric, the god of lies. They are an unlikely duo working together to try to serve their gods. When they join paths with Kleef and Arietta, it would seem to be divine intervention. But everyone has their own motivations which adds to the complexity of the plot.
Up against them in their quest is the shade prince Yder and an army of orcs. Yder’s inclusion in the story adds for some nice tie-ins, something this book does well. There are lots of mentions to events that occurred in Paul S. Kemp’s books in regards to Netheril and Rivalen’s incident in Ondulin. The Shadovar are taking over Cormyr and the story reflects that. There are also lots of moments highlighting the changes the world is going through, and direct signs of Aberil and Tori’s separation. Denning even ties into the previous book in the Sundering series, The Reaver, by including the Gnome smuggler Greathorne. All of these elements bring together the other stories in the Realms and The Sundering to make The Sentinel feel like an even grander story. It’s not just a little adventure, but an observation and participation in the separation of worlds. History is in the making, and by tying into those other stories, this is the first book which really makes this feel like a series, like all those other adventures mattered and had purpose.
Without delving too much into more into the details, The Sentinel is a fun fantasy story that’s worth checking out. It has good characters, lots of action, and a variety of adventures as the heroes endeavor to deliver the Eye of Gruumsh in an effort to save the world. As part of The Sundering series, it does a lot to move the overall plot forward as the world’s split. All in all, I give The Sentinel a solid four out of five metal bikinis. It’s a lot of fun.
“There are no truths more dangerous than terrible truths,” Malik said. “Those are the kind no one wishes to see.”
Featured on the cover is one of the main characters. Kleef is a topsword in the Marsember Watch. He’s a Chosen of the god Helm. Yet his life has not been very special. The ranks of the city guard are rife with corruption. Kleef’s sense of duty and fairness has caused him to be overlooked for promotions. He has little to show for his devotion to Helm. A good fighter with a big sword, Kleef is a character who has much to discover about himself. His flaws, his god’s gifts, and the mysterious magic sword that he wields are all things he must explore.
Sadly not pictured on the cover is Arietta. This story is as much her’s as it is Kleef’s. She is a noble’s daughter and a follower of Siamorphe. Like Kleef, she goes through a journey of self-discovery. Her stout beliefs of courage, duty and leadership bring her into a quest to save the world. Unlike Kleef, though, she must make tougher sacrifices and work twice as hard to survive the adventure. Her god may grant the gift of leadership, but when it comes to combat, she must rely on herself to persevere.
“Are you truly that devoted, Malik?” Joelle finally asked. “You would die for me?”
“Die?”
“You said you were devoted,” Joelle reminded him. “Aren’t you?”
Malik hesitated. “Would dying truly be necessary?”
Then there is the thief of hearts and the Seraph of lies rounding out the team of heroes. Joelle is the Chosen of Sune, the god of love. Malik is the Chosen of Cyric, the god of lies. They are an unlikely duo working together to try to serve their gods. When they join paths with Kleef and Arietta, it would seem to be divine intervention. But everyone has their own motivations which adds to the complexity of the plot.
Up against them in their quest is the shade prince Yder and an army of orcs. Yder’s inclusion in the story adds for some nice tie-ins, something this book does well. There are lots of mentions to events that occurred in Paul S. Kemp’s books in regards to Netheril and Rivalen’s incident in Ondulin. The Shadovar are taking over Cormyr and the story reflects that. There are also lots of moments highlighting the changes the world is going through, and direct signs of Aberil and Tori’s separation. Denning even ties into the previous book in the Sundering series, The Reaver, by including the Gnome smuggler Greathorne. All of these elements bring together the other stories in the Realms and The Sundering to make The Sentinel feel like an even grander story. It’s not just a little adventure, but an observation and participation in the separation of worlds. History is in the making, and by tying into those other stories, this is the first book which really makes this feel like a series, like all those other adventures mattered and had purpose.
Without delving too much into more into the details, The Sentinel is a fun fantasy story that’s worth checking out. It has good characters, lots of action, and a variety of adventures as the heroes endeavor to deliver the Eye of Gruumsh in an effort to save the world. As part of The Sundering series, it does a lot to move the overall plot forward as the world’s split. All in all, I give The Sentinel a solid four out of five metal bikinis. It’s a lot of fun.
April 4, 2014
I received an electronic advanced reading copy of this from the publishers via NetGalley.
"The Sundering" series of Forgotten Realms novels, small, personal stories detailing times of upheavals in the shared universe, continue to entertain me and surprise me with their successful range of style and subject matter. For a shared fantasy universe based on role playing games. certainly 'light fiction' that not everyone would take seriously, these have each been impressive. I am again glad for this discovery of Forgotten Realms works beyond Salvatore's.
LIke Salvatore, Denning is well-known for his Forgotten Realms novels, and certainly also for his Star Wars novels. Yet, I don't think I've ever read Denning prior to this. What struck me about his style in "The Sentinel" is how cinematic the writing feels. When adapting written word for screen, much needs to be cut to keep the action moving, the essential details still provided, but able to fit into a short period of time of a film or TV episode. Denning manages to convey this sense of urgent story telling here. The novel immediately breaks out in mid action, a fight and a chase that quickly turns into the mad race/quest that becomes the plot of the story. Denning writes the action very well, believably, providing detail while still maintaining that quick economic pace of words and sentence flow. Amid the continuous drive forward of the novel, Denning still manages to put in moments of character introspection and interaction focusing on the emotions behind their lives, their decisions, or what may be more apt to say, their destinies. While some of the characters aren't developed beyond their immediate role, the key characters of Kleef and Lady Arietta are rendered suitably complex for the size, scope, and and style of this novel.
What I particularly liked about "The Sentinel" was how closely the style of its writing matched the overall theme in the story. Each novel of "The Sundering" series has dealt with 'Chosens' of various gods, serving almost as avatars of a divine battle in the material realm of Forgotten Realms. "The Sentinel", however, is the first to fully dive into this concept of being a Chosen of a god, of having your life not necessarily be about your 'choices' as much as your 'destiny', what you need to do, what the gods are driving you toward. Denning's novel thus becomes the closest to a Forgotten Realms version of mythology that I have yet seen, reading in parts not unlike the themes of Homer's "Iliad". The quick nature of the writing, and the constant propelling of action forward, starting characters mid-adventure and going head-forward towards the denouement parallel this theme of mythology so effectively. Characters have few moments to deeply consider or choose what they are going to do, they are being driven by an author, the particular god they worship and have committed to, imbued with the powers and responsibilities of being Chosen.
The plot of "The Sentinel" thus becomes rather simple, a straight-forward quest with few major complications, unlike some of the previous entries to the series. Yet, here that deficiency of a cliched, simple plot doesn't play as being all terrible because of this successful merging of style and theme by Denning, simply taking the focus of this story onto something more Classic, fantasy back to its roots of mythology with a modern twist.
"The Sundering" series of Forgotten Realms novels, small, personal stories detailing times of upheavals in the shared universe, continue to entertain me and surprise me with their successful range of style and subject matter. For a shared fantasy universe based on role playing games. certainly 'light fiction' that not everyone would take seriously, these have each been impressive. I am again glad for this discovery of Forgotten Realms works beyond Salvatore's.
LIke Salvatore, Denning is well-known for his Forgotten Realms novels, and certainly also for his Star Wars novels. Yet, I don't think I've ever read Denning prior to this. What struck me about his style in "The Sentinel" is how cinematic the writing feels. When adapting written word for screen, much needs to be cut to keep the action moving, the essential details still provided, but able to fit into a short period of time of a film or TV episode. Denning manages to convey this sense of urgent story telling here. The novel immediately breaks out in mid action, a fight and a chase that quickly turns into the mad race/quest that becomes the plot of the story. Denning writes the action very well, believably, providing detail while still maintaining that quick economic pace of words and sentence flow. Amid the continuous drive forward of the novel, Denning still manages to put in moments of character introspection and interaction focusing on the emotions behind their lives, their decisions, or what may be more apt to say, their destinies. While some of the characters aren't developed beyond their immediate role, the key characters of Kleef and Lady Arietta are rendered suitably complex for the size, scope, and and style of this novel.
What I particularly liked about "The Sentinel" was how closely the style of its writing matched the overall theme in the story. Each novel of "The Sundering" series has dealt with 'Chosens' of various gods, serving almost as avatars of a divine battle in the material realm of Forgotten Realms. "The Sentinel", however, is the first to fully dive into this concept of being a Chosen of a god, of having your life not necessarily be about your 'choices' as much as your 'destiny', what you need to do, what the gods are driving you toward. Denning's novel thus becomes the closest to a Forgotten Realms version of mythology that I have yet seen, reading in parts not unlike the themes of Homer's "Iliad". The quick nature of the writing, and the constant propelling of action forward, starting characters mid-adventure and going head-forward towards the denouement parallel this theme of mythology so effectively. Characters have few moments to deeply consider or choose what they are going to do, they are being driven by an author, the particular god they worship and have committed to, imbued with the powers and responsibilities of being Chosen.
The plot of "The Sentinel" thus becomes rather simple, a straight-forward quest with few major complications, unlike some of the previous entries to the series. Yet, here that deficiency of a cliched, simple plot doesn't play as being all terrible because of this successful merging of style and theme by Denning, simply taking the focus of this story onto something more Classic, fantasy back to its roots of mythology with a modern twist.
March 18, 2014
First of all, let me say I've read this courtesy of Netgalley and WOTC, who gave me an early copy for review.
Now, regarding this book. The comeback of Troy Denning to our beloved Realms... It's a great comeback, in my opinion.
I loved Troy's previous work, especially on the archwizards' trilogy and the Cyric books.
Let's get the main bad thing for me out of the way. This is not a return of the archwizards' book. Those books were what made me feel immersed in the Netheril Empire and the Shadow. Unfortunately, I was coming to this book with high hopes that, since the sundering was revolving a lot around Shar, Netheril, etc., that Troy would be the crown jewel of the Sudnering books (a position which seems to be given to Ed Greenwood, now that Troy is done with his book). I really wanted this book to be more like those, but it's not, and that saddens me. However, that is the major negative issue I have with the book, so you can see where this is going (mostly high praise from here on out).
Troy, however, does give us an "old friend", Malik. Well, if there is one story I enjoy is Cyric's. And with it, Malik's. So I was very happy to see the return of Malik. He provides a bit of dark comic relief, which is great. However, he also strangely enough returns with a "envious"/"jealous" twist that is a bit bothersome for most of the book. He is practically begging for some female attention, and while I can understand that (since due to his odour of decay he mustn't be the ladies' man), it really starts to get a bit cumbersome for the character, at least from what I remember of Malik.
But the characters are all very well fleshed out, Troy has gotten us used to that.
And it's amazing what such a "small" book can accomplish regarding the character depth. They are all very interesting and you keep a feeling of wanting to read more about them, be they the previous adventures of Joelle and Malik, or the future adventures of Kenric and his liegeLady or even the life of Yder, the shade prince.
Unfortunately, it has a drawback, in that the story feels very "short". You have 4 key periods (events in Marsember, events at sea, events on the road and events in Underchasm), and that is it, story told. Which is a little disappointing. As well as the fact that you don't see a lot of Shade dealings, despite the whole chase by Yder. That is to say (and in connection to what I said before about the archwizards) "Netheril" is put on hold, and only mentioned in passing, despite the pontential to go deeper.
But the length of the book is perfect, nonetheless. It doesn't get boring and the pace feels right throughout.
The places Troy takes us to, the gods and the peoples are not the average forgotten realms' ones, and that is great. I always love it when authors give you insights on new things, instead of using the same old scenarios. And that is probably one of the best things this book has to offer.
Lastly, this book feels very reminiscent of Cyric's books, and that is a good thing (a voyage, an evil, jealous frail man, a powerful warrior, a magic-gifted female companion - granted here it's a divine gift - gods dying and vying for power). This feels like home for Troy's writing and the book shows it. It's a perfect setting. And... it's got a magnificent twist in the end (though I could smell it a mile away by midbook).
Malik is still one of my favourite characters, and I'm glad to read about him once again. Thank you Troy Denning for that and for such a great book.
Now, regarding this book. The comeback of Troy Denning to our beloved Realms... It's a great comeback, in my opinion.
I loved Troy's previous work, especially on the archwizards' trilogy and the Cyric books.
Let's get the main bad thing for me out of the way. This is not a return of the archwizards' book. Those books were what made me feel immersed in the Netheril Empire and the Shadow. Unfortunately, I was coming to this book with high hopes that, since the sundering was revolving a lot around Shar, Netheril, etc., that Troy would be the crown jewel of the Sudnering books (a position which seems to be given to Ed Greenwood, now that Troy is done with his book). I really wanted this book to be more like those, but it's not, and that saddens me. However, that is the major negative issue I have with the book, so you can see where this is going (mostly high praise from here on out).
Troy, however, does give us an "old friend", Malik. Well, if there is one story I enjoy is Cyric's. And with it, Malik's. So I was very happy to see the return of Malik. He provides a bit of dark comic relief, which is great. However, he also strangely enough returns with a "envious"/"jealous" twist that is a bit bothersome for most of the book. He is practically begging for some female attention, and while I can understand that (since due to his odour of decay he mustn't be the ladies' man), it really starts to get a bit cumbersome for the character, at least from what I remember of Malik.
But the characters are all very well fleshed out, Troy has gotten us used to that.
And it's amazing what such a "small" book can accomplish regarding the character depth. They are all very interesting and you keep a feeling of wanting to read more about them, be they the previous adventures of Joelle and Malik, or the future adventures of Kenric and his liegeLady or even the life of Yder, the shade prince.
Unfortunately, it has a drawback, in that the story feels very "short". You have 4 key periods (events in Marsember, events at sea, events on the road and events in Underchasm), and that is it, story told. Which is a little disappointing. As well as the fact that you don't see a lot of Shade dealings, despite the whole chase by Yder. That is to say (and in connection to what I said before about the archwizards) "Netheril" is put on hold, and only mentioned in passing, despite the pontential to go deeper.
But the length of the book is perfect, nonetheless. It doesn't get boring and the pace feels right throughout.
The places Troy takes us to, the gods and the peoples are not the average forgotten realms' ones, and that is great. I always love it when authors give you insights on new things, instead of using the same old scenarios. And that is probably one of the best things this book has to offer.
Lastly, this book feels very reminiscent of Cyric's books, and that is a good thing (a voyage, an evil, jealous frail man, a powerful warrior, a magic-gifted female companion - granted here it's a divine gift - gods dying and vying for power). This feels like home for Troy's writing and the book shows it. It's a perfect setting. And... it's got a magnificent twist in the end (though I could smell it a mile away by midbook).
Malik is still one of my favourite characters, and I'm glad to read about him once again. Thank you Troy Denning for that and for such a great book.
February 25, 2014
As an authorized early reviewer of novels, I have read some truly terrible sci-fi/fantasy books before. I am happy to say that this book does not go down that road! From the very beginning of the story, the action hits you hard and at a fast-pace, keeping time with the underlying theme of the invasion of Cormyr by the Shadovar. At a time when dead Gods abound all over the world, they are slowly starting to rise again. This is showcased very well when you are introduced to the Chosen, the select few who act on behalf of their Gods and are granted gifts by them because of it. The journey to take the Eye of Gruumsh to the temple encompasses the entire novel and is a wonderful, classical example of how Dungeons and Dragons can excite the small child in all of us, and bring us back to the days when we read our first Dungeons and Dragons book or played our first game. Everyone can read this and picture knights and wizards and evil villains all racing to an objective in a classic chase scene, so popularized throughout literature history. This story is well written and keeps a steady pace all the way until the end, and does not disappoint on that count. One thing I had worried about when I read this book was the emotional content of the characters, because traditionally, most sci-fi books are lacking in the emotional content. This book handled it pretty decently. There was a lack of emotional connection between the Chosen of Sune and the Chosen of Siamorphe that made the expected plot twist a little difficult to follow, due to the rushed emotional connection. However, there was clear emotions shown by the men in this book. The evil Shadovar, however, were not as fleshed out as I would like. I would assume, that that this because this book is about the heroes and not about the world as a whole, but I was surprised the Shadovar weren't fleshed out more. They were described excellently in the beginning and middle, but near the end, it seems he got tired of writing their lines and just made them a generic villain. The orcs had some of my favorite lines in the book. Sadly, where this story falls down is right at the last moment, due to ambiguity by the writer or perhaps lack of familiarity on my part with the underlying story. I had to re-read the second-to-last chapter twice just to be sure of what happened, because there was no "Eureka!" moment, nor was there a clear declaration of victory or loss. It was very subtle that I almost missed it. For those readers who are used to this style from Troy Denning, I take my hat off to you, because it took me completely by surprise. I eagerly look forward to the next book in the series, due to the comedic writing in this one that came out of the blue. There were some truly funny parts in this book that showed the author has a sense of humor when he writes. Overall, I would say this is an excellent book, and well worth taking the time to read. Even with the little problems listed above, all it needed was a little more polishing before publication. The core of the story was strong and that's what makes a good book. The rest is just window dressing.
March 7, 2014
Troy Denning's 'The Sentinel' is an entertaining book, one that is quite fun to read and that also deals with many aspects that dungeons and dragons readers that follow the Forgotten Realms and its Sundering storyline might come to expect: mainly, the facts that this book shows some effects of the Spellplague as being reversed and also the return of deities thought to be dead (SPOILERS: Helm).
The plot of the book if an interesting one, regarding how mortals, especially but not only the chosen of the gods, operate as agents of the divine beings in order to further their agendas. The book reminisces the Forgotten Realms approach to religion as more akin to the Greek or Roman mythology in the sense of gods directly or subtly instructing mortals what to do, but still what is interesting is both how mortal actions may largely define whether a certain god is successful or not, as previous Sundering books also portray, and also how the affairs of gods may be exploited by others and mortals, who may subtly lead them to doing things.
Being quests a typical element of fantasy fiction generally, it can be said that the plot of this book is related to persuading a divine being to remain involved in the world so as to prevent another deity from exerting dominance, and how to do this certain chosen must bring an important object to the temple of a deity and perform a ritual there. An interesting aspect is how this explores the notion of sacrifice, and the selflessness of different characters does not seem forced but rather natural.
Moreover, since the Quixote, novels are assessed in terms of the evolution of characters, and we see how a bitter watchman overcomes his bitterness and how a naive noble comes to live up to the ideal of service in a way that is well explained and interesting. A curious aspect of the book is how depending on the religious affiliation of the characters, they perceive events in a different way and explain them in competing versions, as a follower of Sune, the goddess of 'love', explains expressly, thus bringing some uncertainty or mystery to religion.
Having said that, one aspect I am not fond of is how the book portrays, precisely because of the aforementioned goddess, love as mostly something related to the Eros or erotic dimension; and some stances concerning culture wars as to sexuality portrayed in the book are portrayed in a manner that is (much) simpler than what the full extent of their complexity and (discussed and controversial) implications involve. Yet, curiously, it is the feelings and romantic experiences and decisions of the 'Sentinel', Kleef, which are the most interesting in my opinion and encompass not only the erotic aspect but also the agape and selfless element of love. It is intriguing, since service to others, as embodied by gods different from the goddess of love, may imply a deeper form of love in the very Forgotten Realms: this is something I like about literature, and it is how reading permits readers to discuss and expand on what they read, maybe even disagreeing or going beyond what they have read.
Lastly, the writing style of the author is to be praised, it is a delight to read books as these concerning their fun and style.
The plot of the book if an interesting one, regarding how mortals, especially but not only the chosen of the gods, operate as agents of the divine beings in order to further their agendas. The book reminisces the Forgotten Realms approach to religion as more akin to the Greek or Roman mythology in the sense of gods directly or subtly instructing mortals what to do, but still what is interesting is both how mortal actions may largely define whether a certain god is successful or not, as previous Sundering books also portray, and also how the affairs of gods may be exploited by others and mortals, who may subtly lead them to doing things.
Being quests a typical element of fantasy fiction generally, it can be said that the plot of this book is related to persuading a divine being to remain involved in the world so as to prevent another deity from exerting dominance, and how to do this certain chosen must bring an important object to the temple of a deity and perform a ritual there. An interesting aspect is how this explores the notion of sacrifice, and the selflessness of different characters does not seem forced but rather natural.
Moreover, since the Quixote, novels are assessed in terms of the evolution of characters, and we see how a bitter watchman overcomes his bitterness and how a naive noble comes to live up to the ideal of service in a way that is well explained and interesting. A curious aspect of the book is how depending on the religious affiliation of the characters, they perceive events in a different way and explain them in competing versions, as a follower of Sune, the goddess of 'love', explains expressly, thus bringing some uncertainty or mystery to religion.
Having said that, one aspect I am not fond of is how the book portrays, precisely because of the aforementioned goddess, love as mostly something related to the Eros or erotic dimension; and some stances concerning culture wars as to sexuality portrayed in the book are portrayed in a manner that is (much) simpler than what the full extent of their complexity and (discussed and controversial) implications involve. Yet, curiously, it is the feelings and romantic experiences and decisions of the 'Sentinel', Kleef, which are the most interesting in my opinion and encompass not only the erotic aspect but also the agape and selfless element of love. It is intriguing, since service to others, as embodied by gods different from the goddess of love, may imply a deeper form of love in the very Forgotten Realms: this is something I like about literature, and it is how reading permits readers to discuss and expand on what they read, maybe even disagreeing or going beyond what they have read.
Lastly, the writing style of the author is to be praised, it is a delight to read books as these concerning their fun and style.
July 8, 2015
Originally published on Tales to Tide You Over
Another exceptional book in The Sundering series, The Sentinel begins with a simple guardsman with a chip on his shoulder trying to do the best for his city and help the evacuation before it is overrun by the Shade. He stands out not because of anything magical or god related at first but simply because he is not corrupt in a city, and organization, founded on bribery. In that first moment, he’s torn between two objectives and the only way out is to bend enough to accept a bribe, not for himself but to use on his men. It’s desperate times and they most definitely call for desperate measures with the evacuation stalled by doomsday priests and Kleef having seen what he’s pretty sure is the first Shade operative in the city.
That’s just a taste of this book, which reads as a nonstop race impeded on all sides much like the best of the action film genre. If you’ve been reading my reviews, though, you’d know that’s not really the quality I look for in books: the non-stop action. However, check my first paragraph again and you’ll see what had me snagged.
First character, first event, and already he’s faced with a moral dilemma between principles which have gotten him in nothing but trouble his whole life, and his duty to the city and its people, the foundation of those same principles.
Despite the action, or in some ways because of it, this is a character story.
And what a cast of characters it is.
Beyond Kleef, whether I look to Arietta, a spoiled noblewoman who has taken on responsibility for her city when she sees all others of her class, her family especially, failing that duty, or Malik and Joelle, the two who drew the Shades into the city in the first place, I’m given interesting, complicated folks. They have the attention of gods, not always a good thing, and so a higher purpose that they believe in with all their hearts…though sometimes it’s fear rather than devotion that drives them.
Each has a different agenda that walks alongside the rest, but those agendas don’t always equate to good intentions toward the others. It’s a complicated tale where the definition of “bad guy” is fluid and questions of sacrifice become twisted around the greater need and willingness. The characters learn as much about themselves as the others, a pattern that offers a compelling read where the reader is asked to judge where to stand on these questions as well, giving the reader an ever shifting collection of heroes and villains all in the same four people.
P.S. I received this title from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Another exceptional book in The Sundering series, The Sentinel begins with a simple guardsman with a chip on his shoulder trying to do the best for his city and help the evacuation before it is overrun by the Shade. He stands out not because of anything magical or god related at first but simply because he is not corrupt in a city, and organization, founded on bribery. In that first moment, he’s torn between two objectives and the only way out is to bend enough to accept a bribe, not for himself but to use on his men. It’s desperate times and they most definitely call for desperate measures with the evacuation stalled by doomsday priests and Kleef having seen what he’s pretty sure is the first Shade operative in the city.
That’s just a taste of this book, which reads as a nonstop race impeded on all sides much like the best of the action film genre. If you’ve been reading my reviews, though, you’d know that’s not really the quality I look for in books: the non-stop action. However, check my first paragraph again and you’ll see what had me snagged.
First character, first event, and already he’s faced with a moral dilemma between principles which have gotten him in nothing but trouble his whole life, and his duty to the city and its people, the foundation of those same principles.
Despite the action, or in some ways because of it, this is a character story.
And what a cast of characters it is.
Beyond Kleef, whether I look to Arietta, a spoiled noblewoman who has taken on responsibility for her city when she sees all others of her class, her family especially, failing that duty, or Malik and Joelle, the two who drew the Shades into the city in the first place, I’m given interesting, complicated folks. They have the attention of gods, not always a good thing, and so a higher purpose that they believe in with all their hearts…though sometimes it’s fear rather than devotion that drives them.
Each has a different agenda that walks alongside the rest, but those agendas don’t always equate to good intentions toward the others. It’s a complicated tale where the definition of “bad guy” is fluid and questions of sacrifice become twisted around the greater need and willingness. The characters learn as much about themselves as the others, a pattern that offers a compelling read where the reader is asked to judge where to stand on these questions as well, giving the reader an ever shifting collection of heroes and villains all in the same four people.
P.S. I received this title from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
April 18, 2014
Book Bout-Book review of The Sentinel: The Sundering, Book V
Book- The Sentinel: The Sundering, Book V
Author – Troy Denning
Price- $8
TL;DR- Not bad, but Sundering formulaic 80%
Basics- How faithful are you? Kleef stands as the last worshiper of Helm, the dead god of law and service in Toril. As a watchman he is dragged into a struggle to save two chosen of two different gods have stolen a power artifact of a third god to inspire a divine love triangle with two other gods. Along the way, a third chosen is dragged into service to try to save Toril. Can Kleef stand firm in the Forgotten Realms as even his god has seemed to abandon him as he travels to world to save it?
Setting- This is a fairly standard Forgotten Realms story. The world and story feel like it's in the Realms as lots of the high notes that have been going through the world are mentioned. The story does go to some specific Realms spots so it is a Realms story. As this is primarily a traveling story, the pace makes set building a bit hard and that makes the setting and story suffers a little. 4.5/5
Characters- I felt that characters were a bit off. Nothing horrible, but the seemed somewhat wishy-washy. The most fleshed out and stable character was the chosen of the death god. I felt sometimes the choices the characters made were not the real choice or action the characters should have made. It's not story ending, but it did affect my enjoyment a bit. 3.5 /5
Story- The story isn't bad. It's basically the Lord of the Rings in a single book. That's not bad as most Dungeons and Dragons quests are like that, but having more time to build sets would help a traveling story. This book is one of the shorter Sundering books which is good as some stories have dragged on a bit longer then they should. But, it's also bad as this book could have used a bit of padding in some places. 4/5
Summary- This isn't a bad book. If you're reading the Sundering like me, then this is one of the better ones. If you want an introduction to the Realms, then this might not be the best book for you. The book follows the standard Sundering formula, but don't let that distract you. If you want to learn about the return of some of the more important Toril gods, then this is right up you alley. 80%
Book- The Sentinel: The Sundering, Book V
Author – Troy Denning
Price- $8
TL;DR- Not bad, but Sundering formulaic 80%
Basics- How faithful are you? Kleef stands as the last worshiper of Helm, the dead god of law and service in Toril. As a watchman he is dragged into a struggle to save two chosen of two different gods have stolen a power artifact of a third god to inspire a divine love triangle with two other gods. Along the way, a third chosen is dragged into service to try to save Toril. Can Kleef stand firm in the Forgotten Realms as even his god has seemed to abandon him as he travels to world to save it?
Setting- This is a fairly standard Forgotten Realms story. The world and story feel like it's in the Realms as lots of the high notes that have been going through the world are mentioned. The story does go to some specific Realms spots so it is a Realms story. As this is primarily a traveling story, the pace makes set building a bit hard and that makes the setting and story suffers a little. 4.5/5
Characters- I felt that characters were a bit off. Nothing horrible, but the seemed somewhat wishy-washy. The most fleshed out and stable character was the chosen of the death god. I felt sometimes the choices the characters made were not the real choice or action the characters should have made. It's not story ending, but it did affect my enjoyment a bit. 3.5 /5
Story- The story isn't bad. It's basically the Lord of the Rings in a single book. That's not bad as most Dungeons and Dragons quests are like that, but having more time to build sets would help a traveling story. This book is one of the shorter Sundering books which is good as some stories have dragged on a bit longer then they should. But, it's also bad as this book could have used a bit of padding in some places. 4/5
Summary- This isn't a bad book. If you're reading the Sundering like me, then this is one of the better ones. If you want an introduction to the Realms, then this might not be the best book for you. The book follows the standard Sundering formula, but don't let that distract you. If you want to learn about the return of some of the more important Toril gods, then this is right up you alley. 80%
March 7, 2014
…And ACTION! From the start, Troy Denning’s addition to The Sundering Series, The Sentinel continues the dark texture of previous books, pitting heroes against villains in an uphill battle for victory. Kleef Kenric is on a mission to save his land from its evil invaders. He finds he has been blessed with special gifts and is now one of The Chosen and a bullseye has been firmly planted on his back. He is not alone, having joined a ragtag group on their own mission quest, but who can he trust among the unusual allies he has found? Is there a traitor among them? What secrets do they know? What secrets are they hiding? Could his faith in these people be the downfall of his land?
Welcome back to the Forgotten Realm, this time as seen through the eyes and mind of Troy Denning. Mr. Denning jumps right in and plows on through, with an intense pace that gives just enough detail to keep that “shrouded in darkness” feel of the realm. Evil is lurking behind every corner, and Mr. Denning tells us what we need to know, when we need it most without becoming too wordy or losing the flavor of the series, not an easy feat with so many talented authors having gone before him.
Dark, edgy and well-written, The Sentinel is a wonderful addition to The Sundering series.
I received an ARC edition from Wizards of the Coast in exchange for my honest review.
Series: the Sundering - Book 5
Publication Date: April 1, 2014
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
ISBN: 9780786964598
Genre: Dark Fantasy/Sci-fi
Number of Pages: 304
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Welcome back to the Forgotten Realm, this time as seen through the eyes and mind of Troy Denning. Mr. Denning jumps right in and plows on through, with an intense pace that gives just enough detail to keep that “shrouded in darkness” feel of the realm. Evil is lurking behind every corner, and Mr. Denning tells us what we need to know, when we need it most without becoming too wordy or losing the flavor of the series, not an easy feat with so many talented authors having gone before him.
Dark, edgy and well-written, The Sentinel is a wonderful addition to The Sundering series.
I received an ARC edition from Wizards of the Coast in exchange for my honest review.
Series: the Sundering - Book 5
Publication Date: April 1, 2014
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
ISBN: 9780786964598
Genre: Dark Fantasy/Sci-fi
Number of Pages: 304
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
May 2, 2014
This review originally appeared on my blog, Leeanna.me.
==
I’ve enjoyed the first four books of The Sundering series: THE COMPANIONS (R.A. Salvatore), THE GODBORN (Paul S. Kemp), THE ADVERSARY (Erin M. Evans), and THE REAVER (Richard Lee Byers). But number five, THE SENTINEL, just didn’t have the same shine for me as the previous books.
Kleef, a topsword in the Marsember Watch in Cormyr, rescues Joelle and Malik from the Shadovar. Joelle and Malik are Chosen, on a mission to save Toril from Shar by using the Eye of Gruumsh. Along with Arietta, a noble of Cormyr, they fight across Faerûn, on the run from the Shadovar and legions of orcs. Along the way, attempts to trust each other are stalled by back stabbing, and no one is sure of anyone’s true intentions.
I’m having a hard time reviewing THE SENTINEL because it’s hard to say much about it. It seemed like I was reading a D&D game put into book format rather than a book about the Sundering. I didn’t come to care about any of the characters, the action scenes were snooze fests, and the story as a whole? I’m not sure what I read, to be honest. The ending left me confused, and I wish I’d given up on this book when it took me four tries to start it.
==
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews:
==
I’ve enjoyed the first four books of The Sundering series: THE COMPANIONS (R.A. Salvatore), THE GODBORN (Paul S. Kemp), THE ADVERSARY (Erin M. Evans), and THE REAVER (Richard Lee Byers). But number five, THE SENTINEL, just didn’t have the same shine for me as the previous books.
Kleef, a topsword in the Marsember Watch in Cormyr, rescues Joelle and Malik from the Shadovar. Joelle and Malik are Chosen, on a mission to save Toril from Shar by using the Eye of Gruumsh. Along with Arietta, a noble of Cormyr, they fight across Faerûn, on the run from the Shadovar and legions of orcs. Along the way, attempts to trust each other are stalled by back stabbing, and no one is sure of anyone’s true intentions.
I’m having a hard time reviewing THE SENTINEL because it’s hard to say much about it. It seemed like I was reading a D&D game put into book format rather than a book about the Sundering. I didn’t come to care about any of the characters, the action scenes were snooze fests, and the story as a whole? I’m not sure what I read, to be honest. The ending left me confused, and I wish I’d given up on this book when it took me four tries to start it.
==
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews:
March 7, 2014
ARC provided by NetGalley and Wizards of the coast for an honest review:
Anyone who has read my reviews should know that I have been reading fantasy novels for 23 years and started to read Dungeons and Dragons/Forgotten realms books in 1992 when TSR still was in existence. I have read the majority of the Realms novels along with Dragonlance, Ravenloft, Dark sun and some other offshoot novel worlds WOTC/TSR owned, so I would say I am well versed in the setting, world, and the current events going on in the realms.
The Sentinel continues the multi arc Sundering and like all the other sundering books it places a heavy emphasis on Chosen, Gods and the Shadovar. Within this book the main characters are Kendrick a knight who worships the Dead god helm, Arietta Seasilver a noblewomen and potential chosen of the goddess of nobility, The heartwarder chosen of Sune and our old friend Malik the seraph of Lies who is just plain outstanding. There are some interesting concepts broached in this novel that deals with god and their worship namely what happens when a dead god is still worshiopped? Especially considering a gods power is derived from its followers in the realms and how nobility is handled and how it should be handled. The story does follow the typical sundering plotlines of chosen gather, chosen fight shadovar, chosen win the day but this book put some high stakes within it and tied itself to the Godborn and the cycle of the night by using the eye of Grummush as a plotline tool. The relationships of the various characters progressed in the lines you realize early in the book but there is an inane plot twist that honestly makes little sense in the relationships of two of the main characters. It was ncie to see our friend Cyric poke his head for a little bit because the Sundering has been far to quiet without his manically and crazy schemes. Overall this book was good with a quick pace that made for a easy read, I would place it above The adversary but below the other sundering novels, still a solid 3.5 or 4 stars out of 5 though.
Anyone who has read my reviews should know that I have been reading fantasy novels for 23 years and started to read Dungeons and Dragons/Forgotten realms books in 1992 when TSR still was in existence. I have read the majority of the Realms novels along with Dragonlance, Ravenloft, Dark sun and some other offshoot novel worlds WOTC/TSR owned, so I would say I am well versed in the setting, world, and the current events going on in the realms.
The Sentinel continues the multi arc Sundering and like all the other sundering books it places a heavy emphasis on Chosen, Gods and the Shadovar. Within this book the main characters are Kendrick a knight who worships the Dead god helm, Arietta Seasilver a noblewomen and potential chosen of the goddess of nobility, The heartwarder chosen of Sune and our old friend Malik the seraph of Lies who is just plain outstanding. There are some interesting concepts broached in this novel that deals with god and their worship namely what happens when a dead god is still worshiopped? Especially considering a gods power is derived from its followers in the realms and how nobility is handled and how it should be handled. The story does follow the typical sundering plotlines of chosen gather, chosen fight shadovar, chosen win the day but this book put some high stakes within it and tied itself to the Godborn and the cycle of the night by using the eye of Grummush as a plotline tool. The relationships of the various characters progressed in the lines you realize early in the book but there is an inane plot twist that honestly makes little sense in the relationships of two of the main characters. It was ncie to see our friend Cyric poke his head for a little bit because the Sundering has been far to quiet without his manically and crazy schemes. Overall this book was good with a quick pace that made for a easy read, I would place it above The adversary but below the other sundering novels, still a solid 3.5 or 4 stars out of 5 though.
August 13, 2016
Loved this book, was really well written and full of action/adventure.
This is book 5 out of 6 in the Sundering Series set in the Forgotten Realms universe. It starts out very quickly as Kleef Kenric, a guard commander in the city of Marsember spots some peculiar individuals, among them are a woman with flame red hair and what looks to be her manservant being followed by men with shining eyes. The story really takes off as Kleef tracks down the woman he saw through the crowds departing the soon to be besieged Marsember only to find that shades and none other than one of the shade princes Yder, is after her. She's Joelle, a Chosen of Sune, the Goddess of love and her unlikely companion, Malik, is a Chosen of Myrkul, the God of Death.
Soon after catching up to these two, Kleef is battling numerous shades as they rush to safety in the home of a young noblewoman named Arietta Seasilver who is herself a Chosen of Siamorphe, the Goddess of Nobility. Arietta joins Kleef in the fight at gates of her family home to try to drive back the Shadovar attacking.
They trick Yder into thinking that which he is after, the Eye of Gruumsh, is on the boat of Arietta's fleeing family. He kills Arietta's father and doesn't find the Eye, which in turn makes this a hostage situation that Kleef cannot abide as he is one of the very last followers of the dead god Helm. They procure a boat and head off after Yder to rescue Arietta's mother, in so doing they are off on a much bigger adventure that spans many miles to bring the Eye of Gruumsh to a place holy to the Primordial of Earth so that he stays on the plane and helps to keep the balance from swaying into Shar's favor.
There is plenty of intrigue, plot twisting, and surprises to the reader which makes the book a real page turner. Highly recommended!
This is book 5 out of 6 in the Sundering Series set in the Forgotten Realms universe. It starts out very quickly as Kleef Kenric, a guard commander in the city of Marsember spots some peculiar individuals, among them are a woman with flame red hair and what looks to be her manservant being followed by men with shining eyes. The story really takes off as Kleef tracks down the woman he saw through the crowds departing the soon to be besieged Marsember only to find that shades and none other than one of the shade princes Yder, is after her. She's Joelle, a Chosen of Sune, the Goddess of love and her unlikely companion, Malik, is a Chosen of Myrkul, the God of Death.
Soon after catching up to these two, Kleef is battling numerous shades as they rush to safety in the home of a young noblewoman named Arietta Seasilver who is herself a Chosen of Siamorphe, the Goddess of Nobility. Arietta joins Kleef in the fight at gates of her family home to try to drive back the Shadovar attacking.
They trick Yder into thinking that which he is after, the Eye of Gruumsh, is on the boat of Arietta's fleeing family. He kills Arietta's father and doesn't find the Eye, which in turn makes this a hostage situation that Kleef cannot abide as he is one of the very last followers of the dead god Helm. They procure a boat and head off after Yder to rescue Arietta's mother, in so doing they are off on a much bigger adventure that spans many miles to bring the Eye of Gruumsh to a place holy to the Primordial of Earth so that he stays on the plane and helps to keep the balance from swaying into Shar's favor.
There is plenty of intrigue, plot twisting, and surprises to the reader which makes the book a real page turner. Highly recommended!
April 10, 2014
The Sundering has everything a reader could want and expect from a good high fantasy tale. The beginning of the story finds us following Kleef , the topsword of the Marsember Watch, recognizing a Shadovar spy following a mysterious woman in the throngs of people fleeing the city in fear of rumored oncoming invasion. Events quickly devolve in to battles in the streets and the coming together of new companions including the watchman, a mysterious manipulative beautiful woman, a feisty rebellious young noblewoman, and a smelly strange little man who disappears in times of danger. After battling the Shadovar in the city they escape and are off on a quest to deliver a odd artifact chased by the Shadovar, hoards of orcs, and other magical beings in hopes of diverting the end of the world as they know it.
The writing was very well executed with wonderful world building and a plethora of colorful characters, both likable and those you love to conquer. Having not read prior installments of this unique six part series, each written by a different author, and coming in on part five did not leave this reader at all confused, which is a real feat for a high fantasy series.
The story was complete and beautifully written with a very satisfying resolution. There is nonstop action from beginning to end with plenty of fantasy lovers' battles and gore, a great mystery, as well as intriguing characters who become enlightened with personal growth experiences. I would definitely recommend this series to high fantasy fans, although I might suggest perhaps starting at book one to get the full experience, but even if you start with The Sundering you will not be disappointed in the tale. I received this book from NetGalley.
The writing was very well executed with wonderful world building and a plethora of colorful characters, both likable and those you love to conquer. Having not read prior installments of this unique six part series, each written by a different author, and coming in on part five did not leave this reader at all confused, which is a real feat for a high fantasy series.
The story was complete and beautifully written with a very satisfying resolution. There is nonstop action from beginning to end with plenty of fantasy lovers' battles and gore, a great mystery, as well as intriguing characters who become enlightened with personal growth experiences. I would definitely recommend this series to high fantasy fans, although I might suggest perhaps starting at book one to get the full experience, but even if you start with The Sundering you will not be disappointed in the tale. I received this book from NetGalley.
May 27, 2014
This is my new favorite book in the series. Primarily, that's because it reads like a classic high fantasy adventure--good vs. evil (though with plenty of shades of grey in between), a group of companions on a mission with Shade warriors and orcs trying to prevent its completion, magic of various kinds at play--and I never really felt like I needed to know the underlying story thread that connects all of The Sundering books. That said, for the first time I actually felt like I was seeing some of the bigger picture, but whether that's because I've finally reached a point where I have enough background to start connecting the dots or because Denning's just better at drawing those lines for me, I don't know. I genuinely liked all four of the main characters, from the honorable Kleef and Arietta, to the questionable Joelle, all the way down to the slimy and smarmy Malik. I do have to say, however, that conveying genuine emotion was not a strong point--a key theme to the conclusion is love and the sacrifices you make for it, but I can't honestly say that I felt any of the love we were told was developing between the various members of the group. But in the end, it really didn't matter; you were satisfied with the explanations of the behaviors without really needing that deeper level of bonding with the characters. I'm still curious to see if the last book truly brings together all the threads from the previous books to weave a solid tapestry, but at this point I no longer expect it, so now I just wonder what qualifies as a "conclusion" in these D&D series.
I received this ARC from NetGalley.
I received this ARC from NetGalley.
April 15, 2014
I received an electronic advance copy of this title for review, courtesy of NetGalley and Wizards of the Coast.
I've never read any previous books by Troy Denning. I have read the first four books in "The Sundering" series. This is another great entry in that series, and a great introduction to the works of Mr. Denning.
I think I read this book cover to cover over a 36 hour period (and that includes an 8 hour work day!). It was engaging. You jump right into the story. No need for lots of set-up, the author can fill you in on what you need to know as the story progresses. This is a talent more authors need to hone! Another little practiced talent the author displays in this book--while there is room for a sequel, it doesn't scream for one. No cliff-hanger here!
My one--very small--gripe with the book is a lot of ground was covered very quickly. I think there was enough traveling and subject matter here it easily could have been a book of twice the length, or perhaps two books. Still, in the grand scheme of things this speaks more to my desire to read more of the author's work than any real criticism of the story.
I strongly recommend this title to any fan of fantasy novels, particularly in the sword and sorcery genre.
I've never read any previous books by Troy Denning. I have read the first four books in "The Sundering" series. This is another great entry in that series, and a great introduction to the works of Mr. Denning.
I think I read this book cover to cover over a 36 hour period (and that includes an 8 hour work day!). It was engaging. You jump right into the story. No need for lots of set-up, the author can fill you in on what you need to know as the story progresses. This is a talent more authors need to hone! Another little practiced talent the author displays in this book--while there is room for a sequel, it doesn't scream for one. No cliff-hanger here!
My one--very small--gripe with the book is a lot of ground was covered very quickly. I think there was enough traveling and subject matter here it easily could have been a book of twice the length, or perhaps two books. Still, in the grand scheme of things this speaks more to my desire to read more of the author's work than any real criticism of the story.
I strongly recommend this title to any fan of fantasy novels, particularly in the sword and sorcery genre.
January 11, 2015
The sentinel (the sundering #5) by troy denning
Going with the growing trend that an age of authors influenced by Dungeon and Dragons, this story could fit into that fantasy genre. An exciting complex plot, and love affair overly a well developed and exciting world. Lady Arietta Seasilver, Chosen of Siamorphe (the patron goddess of nobility), is a beautiful noble woman who decides that her parents are cowards and they are not living up to their power and privilege. She has been privileged beyond measure. Her families influence and her being chosen by her god. Kleef is a third generation Watchman, who resents his loyalty to a dead god, Helm (the vigilant one). Although he is loyal and strives to be trustworthy he does not know he has been chosen by Helm. Malik is chosen of his god, he claimed to be chosen of another god. Joelle Emmeline of Berdusk has no doubt that she was chosen by her god, she awoke with a mission and flame colored hair. Their mission was to take the Eye Of Grumbar to the temple of Gruumsh. A god who demands loyalty of his lover, Luthic, the goddess of caves. This will save Abeir-Toril the twin world from separating. They struggle against the minions of Shar, who desires to control the world at the end of days.
Going with the growing trend that an age of authors influenced by Dungeon and Dragons, this story could fit into that fantasy genre. An exciting complex plot, and love affair overly a well developed and exciting world. Lady Arietta Seasilver, Chosen of Siamorphe (the patron goddess of nobility), is a beautiful noble woman who decides that her parents are cowards and they are not living up to their power and privilege. She has been privileged beyond measure. Her families influence and her being chosen by her god. Kleef is a third generation Watchman, who resents his loyalty to a dead god, Helm (the vigilant one). Although he is loyal and strives to be trustworthy he does not know he has been chosen by Helm. Malik is chosen of his god, he claimed to be chosen of another god. Joelle Emmeline of Berdusk has no doubt that she was chosen by her god, she awoke with a mission and flame colored hair. Their mission was to take the Eye Of Grumbar to the temple of Gruumsh. A god who demands loyalty of his lover, Luthic, the goddess of caves. This will save Abeir-Toril the twin world from separating. They struggle against the minions of Shar, who desires to control the world at the end of days.
March 13, 2014
I liked this one. The potential for betrayal between the allies kept me glued to the pages and I wasn't quite sure where truth and lies tangled or how things would unravel at the end. The creepy castle was a happy bonus. As was the goat.
Simply put, I liked Kleef. He had a few issues he needed to work out but he was dedicated to his cause and wouldn't be swayed from doing what was right. Even when everyone around him was corrupt. That's some serious dedication.
The group he falls in with is... let's say it's diverse. A noblewoman, a thief, and a guy who smells bad. There's one at every party, isn't there? They all have their reasons for being there, but not all are truthful about what their endgame is. Working together as they make their way to their final destination makes for some interesting times.
Nothing says team bonding like needling your companions and/or trying to get in their pants.
Yeah, this book was right up my alley. Dark, sometimes bloody with several likeable characters and a few who I liked disliking. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Simply put, I liked Kleef. He had a few issues he needed to work out but he was dedicated to his cause and wouldn't be swayed from doing what was right. Even when everyone around him was corrupt. That's some serious dedication.
The group he falls in with is... let's say it's diverse. A noblewoman, a thief, and a guy who smells bad. There's one at every party, isn't there? They all have their reasons for being there, but not all are truthful about what their endgame is. Working together as they make their way to their final destination makes for some interesting times.
Nothing says team bonding like needling your companions and/or trying to get in their pants.
Yeah, this book was right up my alley. Dark, sometimes bloody with several likeable characters and a few who I liked disliking. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
June 2, 2014
I was provided with an e-ARC by Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
Set during the Era of Upheaval, The Sundering is a multi-author series chronicling the adventures of Faerûn’s heroes, from those recently Chosen to some of the Realms most enduring characters. Troy Denning’s novel, The Sentinel, is the penultimate entry in the series. It is thrilling from beginning to end. If you love Faerûn and the worlds of the Forgotten Realms, or simply just want to read an engrossing and exciting fantasy series, I highly recommend The Sundering.
As is often the case is fantasy stories, The Sentinel features a band of unlikely heroes setting off to save the world. Kleef Kenric, a bitter paladin who still clings to his family's worship of an otherwise long-forgotten god, discovers that his god, Helm (The Watcher) has given him divine powers and that he is among the newly Chosen scattered across the Realms.
Joined by a warrior noblewoman, an adept thief and a small, enigmatic man who smells slightly of the grave, Kleef sets out on a journey to the Underdark
Set during the Era of Upheaval, The Sundering is a multi-author series chronicling the adventures of Faerûn’s heroes, from those recently Chosen to some of the Realms most enduring characters. Troy Denning’s novel, The Sentinel, is the penultimate entry in the series. It is thrilling from beginning to end. If you love Faerûn and the worlds of the Forgotten Realms, or simply just want to read an engrossing and exciting fantasy series, I highly recommend The Sundering.
As is often the case is fantasy stories, The Sentinel features a band of unlikely heroes setting off to save the world. Kleef Kenric, a bitter paladin who still clings to his family's worship of an otherwise long-forgotten god, discovers that his god, Helm (The Watcher) has given him divine powers and that he is among the newly Chosen scattered across the Realms.
Joined by a warrior noblewoman, an adept thief and a small, enigmatic man who smells slightly of the grave, Kleef sets out on a journey to the Underdark
April 27, 2014
I've read every other book in the Sundering series so far, and they've all been good, so I had high expectations for this book. I have to admit-I am more than a bit surprised that every book in the series has been enjoyable...when every book in a series is written by a different author, I generally don't care for them much. Let's face it-the theme changes, the tone changes, the characters often change, and the continuity from book-to-book is virtually nonexistent.
Sundering has not been that way. Every book has been worth my time to read, and I am glad I decided to go with every book. As for The Sentinel...I love paladins, books about swords are great, and Helm is ALWAYS interesting-combine them together, and you get a book suited just for me. I don't like to give anything anyway...but some of the other chosen of certain gods will also be in the book, and the story makes a good setup for the last book of the series, which I will read as soon as I can get it.
Sundering has not been that way. Every book has been worth my time to read, and I am glad I decided to go with every book. As for The Sentinel...I love paladins, books about swords are great, and Helm is ALWAYS interesting-combine them together, and you get a book suited just for me. I don't like to give anything anyway...but some of the other chosen of certain gods will also be in the book, and the story makes a good setup for the last book of the series, which I will read as soon as I can get it.
April 1, 2014
This is book 5 in The Sundering series. I have never even heard of Kleef Kenric prior to reading this book. I am sad that I haven't before this. Troy Denning writes a very good story of the group of Chosen trying to save Toril from Shar and her followers. If you remember, Shar played a very big part in book 2, The Godborn, of this series. The story flowed very well with lots of action. There was only a tiny bit of lulls and musings of the characters. Overall this was a very enjoyable and easy read.
This book is recommended for anyone wanting to delve into the Dungeons and Dragons world.
I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley.
http://fantasyaddictreviews.blogspot....
This book is recommended for anyone wanting to delve into the Dungeons and Dragons world.
I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley.
http://fantasyaddictreviews.blogspot....
March 10, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. I read it for NetGalley.
My review is short and sweet. I am not a D&D fantasy fan - I read this book because it looked interesting. It is. Very fast-paced and action oriented which I prefer in this genre.
Mr. Denning is an excellent fantasy/action writer. His extensive expertise in video games is apparent; the book read like a thrilling video game.
This novel, for a non-D&D reader, is a nice change of pace from slower paced fantasy books. I recommend it to non-D&D people looking for a change.
My review is short and sweet. I am not a D&D fantasy fan - I read this book because it looked interesting. It is. Very fast-paced and action oriented which I prefer in this genre.
Mr. Denning is an excellent fantasy/action writer. His extensive expertise in video games is apparent; the book read like a thrilling video game.
This novel, for a non-D&D reader, is a nice change of pace from slower paced fantasy books. I recommend it to non-D&D people looking for a change.
September 10, 2016
With each book, the stanzas at the beginning become more fun to read and remember how they relate to the previous books plus try and guess how they’ll relate to the current one. This book has yet more Chosen moved into position to try and stop Shar and the split between the worlds. Great fight sequences and more than enough enemies trying to stop a band of four companions on a great trek. High fantasy at its finest. And I have to wait how long before the next book? Received free copy for review.
May 2, 2014
The book I read was I hope an arc copy! It had a bunch of typos and missing letters, and some words . Otherwise it has all the qualities of the D&D books that I grew up with and love! The actual love scenarios is a bit different, but I liked them! This puts a new spin on the chosen! I really do not want to describe the book since the synopsis does it for you! I will say I enjoyed it and hope to read and add to my D&D book collection! Even if you have never read a D&D book this may get you hooked on them! I can not wait till this is in print!!
January 23, 2016
OK, I may have finished this slog of a Fantasy Love Rhombus to Save the World book, but I cannot in good conscience recommend it.
The characters were pretty parchment-thin, and with so much magic and divine-intervention continuously happening you never really felt any of them were in any real danger, right up until the not-terribly-shocking twist at the end.
I guess D&D inspired fantasy lit is more comfortable now with depictions of same-sex love, but, beyond that, not much going on here we haven't read many times and more by now.
The characters were pretty parchment-thin, and with so much magic and divine-intervention continuously happening you never really felt any of them were in any real danger, right up until the not-terribly-shocking twist at the end.
I guess D&D inspired fantasy lit is more comfortable now with depictions of same-sex love, but, beyond that, not much going on here we haven't read many times and more by now.
September 10, 2016
The writing is very well done with no editing issues. The characters are well fleshed out with flaws befitting the character. I like the path of character development as well. The plot is fast paced, intriguing and fun to read. I like how the series is wrapped up with this book and the authors knowledge and use of the lore and gods. I received an evaluation copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion with no other compensation.
March 30, 2014
One of the better books in the sundering series. This is a quest adventure with very different, but interesting characters. There is much excitement along the way as four adventurers seek to save the realm from Shar, the dark goddess. The ending had more surprises then I could have imagined. I recommend this book for a good read and a powerful story.
May 12, 2014
I found this book an enjoyable addition to the Sundering series....it blended well with the previous books, with enough cross characters to maintain cohesion but enough original characters to make it interesting....dwarfs, zombies, orcs...a little something for everyone...interesting and enjoyable...I give it 4 stars..
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews