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Sentinel Trilogy #2
Ruins
Second instalment of the critically-acclaimed Sentinel Trilogy. In his desperate search for answers about the Sentinels, an ancient society of guardians that his parents once belonged to, fifteen-year-old Nicholas Hallow is tipped into a fresh nightmare of terrifying monsters - and even more sinister humans. As Nicholas is challenged to become a Sentinel, he must track down a mysterious girl with the help of a grumpy cat. Meanwhile, an uprising of evil threatens to destroy the Sentinels and send the world spiralling into chaos.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 10, 2015
Ruins by Joshua Winning
Published 2015, Peridot Press
Stars: ★★★☆☆
Review also posted at: Slapdash & Sundry
Ruins is the sequel to Sentinel, and is the second book in the Sentinel trilogy. While it does suffer a little from "second-book-itis," it's a solid addition to the series. It builds on the mythology set forth in the first one, develops the characters further, and goes on a roller coaster ride of events that lead up to a destructive finale... all to set up book three. The end left a few things hanging, set up a few threads for the trilogy ender, and had a fun twist or two.
All in all, a solid book. Good pacing, fun storylines, entertaining characters. I'll definitely finish the series.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Published 2015, Peridot Press
Stars: ★★★☆☆
Review also posted at: Slapdash & Sundry
Ruins is the sequel to Sentinel, and is the second book in the Sentinel trilogy. While it does suffer a little from "second-book-itis," it's a solid addition to the series. It builds on the mythology set forth in the first one, develops the characters further, and goes on a roller coaster ride of events that lead up to a destructive finale... all to set up book three. The end left a few things hanging, set up a few threads for the trilogy ender, and had a fun twist or two.
All in all, a solid book. Good pacing, fun storylines, entertaining characters. I'll definitely finish the series.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2015
Earlier this year I reviewed the first book in the Sentinel series, appropriately titled
Sentinel
and enjoyed it very much, despite its flaws. So I was looking forward to seeing where the story went in the next instalment called Ruins, especially since the cover seemed to suggest we’d be seeing a lot more of my favourite character Isabel. Winning doesn't disappoint in this exciting sequel, which raises the stakes considerably.
One of the things that bothered me most about Sentinel was the way Nicholas was mostly kept in the dark, with people not giving him all of the important information. It made him feel a bit lacking in agency as he's constantly reacting to events, not being pro-active. In Ruins, Winning has dealt with this problem, as Nicholas is far more part of the action and taking his own decisions. I really liked this more engaged Nicholas, who even if he doesn't know what is going on tries to plot his own course. We also learn more about the background of the Sentinel world in a more coherent form as Nicholas learns more about it in his Sentinel training and through the diaries he's given to read. Since this was my other big problem with the previous book, I was glad to see that the exposition felt more streamlined and inserted at the right moment.
So the flaws of the first book have been mostly eliminated and there weren't any glaring new ones to replace them. Does that mean that Ruins is flawless? Not really, as Winning once again chooses to utilise the foggy and undetermined background when introducing our new, additional main character Rae. We get drips and drabs of her story spread out through the first part of the book. Due to this lack of knowledge much of Rae's logic about choosing certain actions is somewhat confusing. Rae is a fun character, however, and when we finally learn her full history her choices make a lot of sense. She's a sparky character and I liked her chemistry with Nicholas.
Rae isn't the only new character of Nicholas' generation to join the narrative. We also meet the introverted Dawn and the more extrovert and aptly named Merlyn, both children of Sentinel parents who were raised as Sentinels. Dawn forms an interesting contrast to Rae, but also an insider view for Nicholas, while Merlyn gives Nicholas some much needed friendship and conflicted feelings. I really like the dynamics of this group of peers and it’ll be interesting to see whether they’ll come more into their own in the next book of the trilogy. They are very much positioned as the forefront of the new generation of Sentinels, which makes me wonder about the older generation of Sentinels and their role in that final book.
Ruins provides us with a clearer view of the greater scheme of things. We learn the true nature of the adversary and the actual stakes of the narrative. I liked the misdirection Winning applied here, both in referring back to the main opponent from Sentinel and in his sleight of hand with the power balance between Malika and Laurent. The plot of Ruins, which starts off with Sam and Nicholas travelling to Bury St Edmunds to learn more about the nefarious Mr Snelling and at the same time Esus gives Nicholas a quest to find a mysterious girl. Their moving away from Hallow House also means that Jessica is left out of the novel for most of the time, which was surprising. As last time, I loved Isabel, who was once again awesome and crotchety and did I mention a talking cat? Because talking cat for the win! The true affection that develops between Nicholas and Isabel was lovely and different from the mentor and pupil affair it was previously.
With Ruins Winning has grown more sure in his writing. The series takes a darker turn, showing us that not everyone will make it to the end. The story leaves us on a cliffhanger of major proportions and in many ways is a quintessential middle book. It really has to be read in the context of the trilogy. Myself, I can’t wait to find out how this story will resolve and whether the Sentinels manage to prevent the Dark Prophets from rising again.
This book was provided for review by the author.
One of the things that bothered me most about Sentinel was the way Nicholas was mostly kept in the dark, with people not giving him all of the important information. It made him feel a bit lacking in agency as he's constantly reacting to events, not being pro-active. In Ruins, Winning has dealt with this problem, as Nicholas is far more part of the action and taking his own decisions. I really liked this more engaged Nicholas, who even if he doesn't know what is going on tries to plot his own course. We also learn more about the background of the Sentinel world in a more coherent form as Nicholas learns more about it in his Sentinel training and through the diaries he's given to read. Since this was my other big problem with the previous book, I was glad to see that the exposition felt more streamlined and inserted at the right moment.
So the flaws of the first book have been mostly eliminated and there weren't any glaring new ones to replace them. Does that mean that Ruins is flawless? Not really, as Winning once again chooses to utilise the foggy and undetermined background when introducing our new, additional main character Rae. We get drips and drabs of her story spread out through the first part of the book. Due to this lack of knowledge much of Rae's logic about choosing certain actions is somewhat confusing. Rae is a fun character, however, and when we finally learn her full history her choices make a lot of sense. She's a sparky character and I liked her chemistry with Nicholas.
Rae isn't the only new character of Nicholas' generation to join the narrative. We also meet the introverted Dawn and the more extrovert and aptly named Merlyn, both children of Sentinel parents who were raised as Sentinels. Dawn forms an interesting contrast to Rae, but also an insider view for Nicholas, while Merlyn gives Nicholas some much needed friendship and conflicted feelings. I really like the dynamics of this group of peers and it’ll be interesting to see whether they’ll come more into their own in the next book of the trilogy. They are very much positioned as the forefront of the new generation of Sentinels, which makes me wonder about the older generation of Sentinels and their role in that final book.
Ruins provides us with a clearer view of the greater scheme of things. We learn the true nature of the adversary and the actual stakes of the narrative. I liked the misdirection Winning applied here, both in referring back to the main opponent from Sentinel and in his sleight of hand with the power balance between Malika and Laurent. The plot of Ruins, which starts off with Sam and Nicholas travelling to Bury St Edmunds to learn more about the nefarious Mr Snelling and at the same time Esus gives Nicholas a quest to find a mysterious girl. Their moving away from Hallow House also means that Jessica is left out of the novel for most of the time, which was surprising. As last time, I loved Isabel, who was once again awesome and crotchety and did I mention a talking cat? Because talking cat for the win! The true affection that develops between Nicholas and Isabel was lovely and different from the mentor and pupil affair it was previously.
With Ruins Winning has grown more sure in his writing. The series takes a darker turn, showing us that not everyone will make it to the end. The story leaves us on a cliffhanger of major proportions and in many ways is a quintessential middle book. It really has to be read in the context of the trilogy. Myself, I can’t wait to find out how this story will resolve and whether the Sentinels manage to prevent the Dark Prophets from rising again.
This book was provided for review by the author.
June 15, 2018
This is the second book in the Sentinel Trilogy. I absolutely loved it!
Nicholas Hallow is a fantastic character. I liked him very much when I first met him in Sentinel. He has dealt with tragedy and faced danger which has destroyed his world with more bravery than even I would have in the same situation. Now he finds himself on a quest to locate a girl with extraordinary powers to help him fulfil a prophecy.
I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book ever since I finished Sentinel in 2013. It was well worth the wait! I started to read this story and didn't put it down until I had finished it a few hours later. I was hooked from the first page and found myself sitting on the edge of my seat often. This story is told through several different points of view, which gives the reader a broader understanding of what is happening when Nicholas is elsewhere.
The characters come alive as the tale unfolds. I loved meeting Samuel Wilkins again. He was Nicholas's parents friend. I liked his spirit! At 71 years old, he's still got a lot of it, though his health is not as good as it once was. Isabel is a unique character, and her snarky and sarcastic comments had me giggling! I liked her very much, to say that she's now a cat. It's amazing what havoc a misfired spell can do to your perspective! Malika is her usual evil self but, now that Diltraa is dead, she has her own plans to follow and will stop at nothing to see them through.
There are also two new characters introduced in this book. They are Dawn Morgan and Rae Walker. These two girls bring different perspectives to the story. I liked Dawn, who is rather shy and emotionally damaged after an event that changed her life. But, as she interacts with Nicholas, she comes out of her shell more. Rae is more enigmatic. She has not had an easy life either, but she has had more problems in her fifteen years than most will have in their entire lifetime! She also happens to have a deadly power that she is struggling to control.
There are several twists and turns in this book that I didn't see coming, but they just added to a totally enthralling read! I found myself on an emotional roller coaster ride from beginning to end. By the end of the book, I still had some questions that needed to be answered (although a few that were left over from the first book were) but I am now looking forward to reading the next book in the trilogy as soon as I can!
Joshua Winning has written a fantastic sequel to his debut novel! I love his fast paced writing style, and the story flowed beautifully. This author is one to watch. He is one of only a handful of male authors who I have added to my favourite authors list and I can't wait to see what he will come up with in the future.
As this book is a Young Adult fantasy, I highly recommend this book (and series) to young readers aged 12+ and to adults who love YA stories filled with witches, demons, supernatural beings, danger and adventure! - Lynn Worton
Nicholas Hallow is a fantastic character. I liked him very much when I first met him in Sentinel. He has dealt with tragedy and faced danger which has destroyed his world with more bravery than even I would have in the same situation. Now he finds himself on a quest to locate a girl with extraordinary powers to help him fulfil a prophecy.
I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book ever since I finished Sentinel in 2013. It was well worth the wait! I started to read this story and didn't put it down until I had finished it a few hours later. I was hooked from the first page and found myself sitting on the edge of my seat often. This story is told through several different points of view, which gives the reader a broader understanding of what is happening when Nicholas is elsewhere.
The characters come alive as the tale unfolds. I loved meeting Samuel Wilkins again. He was Nicholas's parents friend. I liked his spirit! At 71 years old, he's still got a lot of it, though his health is not as good as it once was. Isabel is a unique character, and her snarky and sarcastic comments had me giggling! I liked her very much, to say that she's now a cat. It's amazing what havoc a misfired spell can do to your perspective! Malika is her usual evil self but, now that Diltraa is dead, she has her own plans to follow and will stop at nothing to see them through.
There are also two new characters introduced in this book. They are Dawn Morgan and Rae Walker. These two girls bring different perspectives to the story. I liked Dawn, who is rather shy and emotionally damaged after an event that changed her life. But, as she interacts with Nicholas, she comes out of her shell more. Rae is more enigmatic. She has not had an easy life either, but she has had more problems in her fifteen years than most will have in their entire lifetime! She also happens to have a deadly power that she is struggling to control.
There are several twists and turns in this book that I didn't see coming, but they just added to a totally enthralling read! I found myself on an emotional roller coaster ride from beginning to end. By the end of the book, I still had some questions that needed to be answered (although a few that were left over from the first book were) but I am now looking forward to reading the next book in the trilogy as soon as I can!
Joshua Winning has written a fantastic sequel to his debut novel! I love his fast paced writing style, and the story flowed beautifully. This author is one to watch. He is one of only a handful of male authors who I have added to my favourite authors list and I can't wait to see what he will come up with in the future.
As this book is a Young Adult fantasy, I highly recommend this book (and series) to young readers aged 12+ and to adults who love YA stories filled with witches, demons, supernatural beings, danger and adventure! - Lynn Worton
January 16, 2016
4.5 Stars!
Fantastic, gripping, action packed thriller! There is not a dull moment in this book.
It just amazes me that an author can think this stuff up! This has a very complex plot that you have to pay attention to, no sleeping through this one (like you would anyway).
There was good strong character development. I liked Nicholas, of course, our hero. But I also loved Rae and Dawn, and then there's Merlyn (he's hilarious). And Isobel, the cat is still a favorite! I just loved everybody.
The first 1/3 of the book was a little confusing to me. It had been a long time since I had read the first book, it took me a bit to catch on and remember who was who and what had happened. But the book kept getting better and better throughout. I would really suggest reading all the books one ofter another.
As crazy as the ending got - it was actually less confusing to me than the rest of the book, it was very well done. And the visualization was fantastic, I had no trouble picturing everything, the author did a fantastic job!
I love it when there are little things that you can connect with in a story - I am not sure if "London's burning, London's burning" is a reference to The Clash??? But I love The Clash! So I took it as a reference! LOL
This was a great second book to this series, can't wait till the next!
Thank you Joshua for sending me this ebook for my honest review!
Fantastic, gripping, action packed thriller! There is not a dull moment in this book.
It just amazes me that an author can think this stuff up! This has a very complex plot that you have to pay attention to, no sleeping through this one (like you would anyway).
There was good strong character development. I liked Nicholas, of course, our hero. But I also loved Rae and Dawn, and then there's Merlyn (he's hilarious). And Isobel, the cat is still a favorite! I just loved everybody.
The first 1/3 of the book was a little confusing to me. It had been a long time since I had read the first book, it took me a bit to catch on and remember who was who and what had happened. But the book kept getting better and better throughout. I would really suggest reading all the books one ofter another.
As crazy as the ending got - it was actually less confusing to me than the rest of the book, it was very well done. And the visualization was fantastic, I had no trouble picturing everything, the author did a fantastic job!
I love it when there are little things that you can connect with in a story - I am not sure if "London's burning, London's burning" is a reference to The Clash??? But I love The Clash! So I took it as a reference! LOL
This was a great second book to this series, can't wait till the next!
Thank you Joshua for sending me this ebook for my honest review!
June 17, 2015
I was gnashing at the teeth for the second in this trilogy and thankfully, film journalist Josh Winning has proven that the mythical tale of the difficult second novel/film is just that: a myth.
Ruins continues the story of Nicholas Hallow, a young man born into a magical secret society that helps protect the world from the forces of evil that wish to swallow it whole.
Cleverly combining magic, myth, folklore and good old teenage coming of age angst; Winning has created a whole new world that will appeal not only to the tween / young adult market, but to those of us significantly older, ahem.
In particular, I can see this being a big hit with reluctant boy readers who may identify with Nicholas, a fairly average kid.
I gave a copy of the first book, Sentinel, to a friend’s 11 year old son who was absolutely hooked. He loved the action, he loved the mystery, the magic and he loved the interaction with Isabel – the cat!
It’s clear that Winning’s love for horror in both cinema and literature has helped him craft a story that knows how to both use and subvert the usual genre tropes.
With subtle nods to the greats, Winning has written a book that feels new and fresh; no mean feat in a market full of books vying to be the next big supernatural series. The difference is this feels as if it really could be.
Bring on Book 3!
4.5 Stars / 5
Reviewer: Sarah McMullan @SarahMcMullanNZ
nzsarahmcmullan@gmail.com
www.13thfloor.co.nz
Ruins continues the story of Nicholas Hallow, a young man born into a magical secret society that helps protect the world from the forces of evil that wish to swallow it whole.
Cleverly combining magic, myth, folklore and good old teenage coming of age angst; Winning has created a whole new world that will appeal not only to the tween / young adult market, but to those of us significantly older, ahem.
In particular, I can see this being a big hit with reluctant boy readers who may identify with Nicholas, a fairly average kid.
I gave a copy of the first book, Sentinel, to a friend’s 11 year old son who was absolutely hooked. He loved the action, he loved the mystery, the magic and he loved the interaction with Isabel – the cat!
It’s clear that Winning’s love for horror in both cinema and literature has helped him craft a story that knows how to both use and subvert the usual genre tropes.
With subtle nods to the greats, Winning has written a book that feels new and fresh; no mean feat in a market full of books vying to be the next big supernatural series. The difference is this feels as if it really could be.
Bring on Book 3!
4.5 Stars / 5
Reviewer: Sarah McMullan @SarahMcMullanNZ
nzsarahmcmullan@gmail.com
www.13thfloor.co.nz
May 19, 2015
A fast paced adventure that blows your mind faster than you can turn the pages.
When the parcel containing the advanced reading copy of Ruins arrived on my doorstep, I have no other words for the sound that a 25 year old male made other than a squeaking squeal. I was not disappointed. Wonderfully crafted characters clash with their nemesis’s in a battle for supremacy of the world as we know it with teenagers holding the keys to our fate. Magical cats, femme fatale red heads and teenagers strong enough to blow a school up are merely the icing on the cake for the Sentinels; reminiscent of Susan Cooper, LJ Smith and Garth Nix, Joshua Winning continues the Sentinel trilogy in Ruins and convinced this reader that he is an up and coming star in the literary world.
“Ruins is all about going darker, deeper, weirder. Everybody learns something new about themselves – and they won’t necessarily like it!” – Joshua Winning
While many authors have used the classic hero and anti-hero archetypes, something about Winning’s characters were strangely refreshing. I’m not sure what and I’ve tried now for several days to put my finger on it but I simply can’t. I can tell you this though: his characters are loveable, they’re well developed and they’re surprising. Malika, a mixture between Satan and a femme fatale plucked straight from the pages of the Maltese Falcon is in constant battle with Sam (aka Sam Spade), the typical detective character. The true gem in the crown of Winning’s legacy though, in my opinion, is once again Isabel, the pensioner witch of days old plucked from eternity and trapped into the body of a sleek, black cat. Her character advances somewhat in this novel and though we do not get as many hints to her backstory as in Sentinel, she becomes even more interesting though I shall not say why for not wanting to spoil it for readers.
While her character isn’t likely to win a glamorous Granny competition, the look she would have given you for suggesting it paints the perfect picture of her character. Attempting to build a picture in my head of her landed me somewhere between a less haggard version of Yubaba from Spirited Away and a doting grandmother with power enough to rip the world apart. She’s such a firecracker. It is in the relationship between Isabel and Nicholas that I noticed Winning’s advancements in writing style: the dialogue and character depths are much more developed this time round and the same can be said for the novel as a whole in comparison to its predecessor Sentinel.
I found the character of Rae difficult; this wasn’t because she was poorly written or that she was difficult to like because that wasn’t the case but because she was simply not easy to empathise with. That being said, I suspect that part of her function was to not be liked so that in the finale novel of the trilogy, we get to bond with her through Nicholas. There was a shining ray (see what I did there?) of hope though towards the end that features a hole but I’m saying no more!
I often find that the location of a novel is integral to the success of a book; though I’m probably biased, I think Winning made a good move in using Norfolk and Suffolk. Ipswich of course is one of the oldest towns in England and Bury St Edmunds is not only the birthplace of the late Sir Bob Hoskins but also a historical landmark in the east; both places feature in the novel. The picturesque nature of Bury St Edmunds though grounds the novel in something that the reader can investigate and build a picture in their head. This is something that adds merit to a novel for me; much like Deborah Harkness managed to do with Oxford and the All Souls Trilogy, Winning has captured my attention using somewhere that I had previously been though completely overlooked for any merit other than shopping value. After having looked up many of the locations that Winning has used, and clearly researched, I am captivated. I have an incredibly vivid image of the locale of the story and have no difficulty imagining what each place looks like. I suspect that the using of such an underrated town is actually to his advantage because it is something that the reader has not necessarily encountered before and it would’ve been all too easy to pick London and be done with it. I’m glad he didn’t because I am tired of the same old locations being used for novels. The only instances I can actually think of in which Norfolk and Suffolk are used are David Moody’s Them or Us and Bernard Ashley’s Freedom Flight which are both set in my hometown of Lowestoft.
The effect this book had on me can only be described as that nostalgic feeling when you think of a movie from your childhood and you remember the sensation of being back there: this book reminded me of 90s teenage fiction. The difference between that fiction and teen fiction today is that it isn’t obsessed with dark clandestine romances and instead deals with danger on a massive scale rather than a local one to those characters. Kelley Armstrong’s The Darkest Powers and L.J Smith’s The Secret Circle novels are perhaps the bar that I expect novels to beat now if they’re for teenagers and fantastical in an urban setting and I can categorically say that his book will sit next to theirs on my shelf. Credit is due to Winning for being able to compete with such titanic names in the fantasy game despite this being his first supernatural thriller series to hit mass market bookshelves. I think John Catt Educational Ltd. could be onto a winner with his book series. I like many close friends and family members are readers who know what we like and they agree that he has something truly brilliant.
Like the sound of this? Why not buy the book?
When the parcel containing the advanced reading copy of Ruins arrived on my doorstep, I have no other words for the sound that a 25 year old male made other than a squeaking squeal. I was not disappointed. Wonderfully crafted characters clash with their nemesis’s in a battle for supremacy of the world as we know it with teenagers holding the keys to our fate. Magical cats, femme fatale red heads and teenagers strong enough to blow a school up are merely the icing on the cake for the Sentinels; reminiscent of Susan Cooper, LJ Smith and Garth Nix, Joshua Winning continues the Sentinel trilogy in Ruins and convinced this reader that he is an up and coming star in the literary world.
“Ruins is all about going darker, deeper, weirder. Everybody learns something new about themselves – and they won’t necessarily like it!” – Joshua Winning
While many authors have used the classic hero and anti-hero archetypes, something about Winning’s characters were strangely refreshing. I’m not sure what and I’ve tried now for several days to put my finger on it but I simply can’t. I can tell you this though: his characters are loveable, they’re well developed and they’re surprising. Malika, a mixture between Satan and a femme fatale plucked straight from the pages of the Maltese Falcon is in constant battle with Sam (aka Sam Spade), the typical detective character. The true gem in the crown of Winning’s legacy though, in my opinion, is once again Isabel, the pensioner witch of days old plucked from eternity and trapped into the body of a sleek, black cat. Her character advances somewhat in this novel and though we do not get as many hints to her backstory as in Sentinel, she becomes even more interesting though I shall not say why for not wanting to spoil it for readers.
While her character isn’t likely to win a glamorous Granny competition, the look she would have given you for suggesting it paints the perfect picture of her character. Attempting to build a picture in my head of her landed me somewhere between a less haggard version of Yubaba from Spirited Away and a doting grandmother with power enough to rip the world apart. She’s such a firecracker. It is in the relationship between Isabel and Nicholas that I noticed Winning’s advancements in writing style: the dialogue and character depths are much more developed this time round and the same can be said for the novel as a whole in comparison to its predecessor Sentinel.
I found the character of Rae difficult; this wasn’t because she was poorly written or that she was difficult to like because that wasn’t the case but because she was simply not easy to empathise with. That being said, I suspect that part of her function was to not be liked so that in the finale novel of the trilogy, we get to bond with her through Nicholas. There was a shining ray (see what I did there?) of hope though towards the end that features a hole but I’m saying no more!
I often find that the location of a novel is integral to the success of a book; though I’m probably biased, I think Winning made a good move in using Norfolk and Suffolk. Ipswich of course is one of the oldest towns in England and Bury St Edmunds is not only the birthplace of the late Sir Bob Hoskins but also a historical landmark in the east; both places feature in the novel. The picturesque nature of Bury St Edmunds though grounds the novel in something that the reader can investigate and build a picture in their head. This is something that adds merit to a novel for me; much like Deborah Harkness managed to do with Oxford and the All Souls Trilogy, Winning has captured my attention using somewhere that I had previously been though completely overlooked for any merit other than shopping value. After having looked up many of the locations that Winning has used, and clearly researched, I am captivated. I have an incredibly vivid image of the locale of the story and have no difficulty imagining what each place looks like. I suspect that the using of such an underrated town is actually to his advantage because it is something that the reader has not necessarily encountered before and it would’ve been all too easy to pick London and be done with it. I’m glad he didn’t because I am tired of the same old locations being used for novels. The only instances I can actually think of in which Norfolk and Suffolk are used are David Moody’s Them or Us and Bernard Ashley’s Freedom Flight which are both set in my hometown of Lowestoft.
The effect this book had on me can only be described as that nostalgic feeling when you think of a movie from your childhood and you remember the sensation of being back there: this book reminded me of 90s teenage fiction. The difference between that fiction and teen fiction today is that it isn’t obsessed with dark clandestine romances and instead deals with danger on a massive scale rather than a local one to those characters. Kelley Armstrong’s The Darkest Powers and L.J Smith’s The Secret Circle novels are perhaps the bar that I expect novels to beat now if they’re for teenagers and fantastical in an urban setting and I can categorically say that his book will sit next to theirs on my shelf. Credit is due to Winning for being able to compete with such titanic names in the fantasy game despite this being his first supernatural thriller series to hit mass market bookshelves. I think John Catt Educational Ltd. could be onto a winner with his book series. I like many close friends and family members are readers who know what we like and they agree that he has something truly brilliant.
Like the sound of this? Why not buy the book?
August 25, 2018
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
PLEASE NOTE - THIS IS A JOINT REVIEW FOR THE WHOLE SERIES
Pros: On the whole, a fast-paced, high-stakes adventure, with a strong ensemble cast and plenty of heart.
Cons: Slow start, tapping into your typical orphan-to-chosen-one trope. Book 1 also has a strangely quaint atmosphere.
WARNING! Contains many elements of horror and gore, plus nightmarish monsters.
Will appeal to: Those who like apocalyptic scenarios (in the truest sense), everyday heroes, surprises...and cats. Those who like seeing characters come of age under exceptional circumstances.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I was offered a review copy by the author, having previously reviewed another one of his books (Vicious Rumer). We also follow each other on Twitter. This didn't influence my opinion on the series.
HITTING THE STRIDE
Straight-up fantasy books are not my thing, but I'm drawn to urban fantasy from time to time, and I do enjoy my Supernatural 😊. That's why I decided to take a chance on this series. I won't lie - Book 1 left me a bit lukewarm. I understand that world-building is necessary and takes time, plus we see most events through Nicholas' eyes, while on the one hand he discovers a new, terrifying world, and on the other is smothered in secrets for his own protection (ha! the old excuse). But my main problem with Sentinel was that its atmosphere is oddly dated, and I couldn't help but feeling like I was reading a historical novel. Of course, old England plays a huge part in the series, with settings like Cambridge or Bury St. Edmunds, and it was indeed nice to be able to visit a world that doesn't come up often in YA - but I'm talking about something deeper here, that to me prevented the series to fully spread its wings. Not to mention, there were a few tropes in Book 1 that sounded too typical - recently orphaned and clueless kid destined to save the world, old mentor, secret room, you name it. Luckily, once I started Book 2, I got sucked up into the story: the author seems to find his feet in Ruins, (not only because most of the world-building and the secrets are out of the way), and Splinter is a poignant, strong finale - while the Witchpin novella, set in a distant past but tied to the events recounted in the trilogy, is a welcomed glimpse into a different era and the origins of a certain pivotal character. [...]
Whole review here.
PLEASE NOTE - THIS IS A JOINT REVIEW FOR THE WHOLE SERIES
Pros: On the whole, a fast-paced, high-stakes adventure, with a strong ensemble cast and plenty of heart.
Cons: Slow start, tapping into your typical orphan-to-chosen-one trope. Book 1 also has a strangely quaint atmosphere.
WARNING! Contains many elements of horror and gore, plus nightmarish monsters.
Will appeal to: Those who like apocalyptic scenarios (in the truest sense), everyday heroes, surprises...and cats. Those who like seeing characters come of age under exceptional circumstances.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I was offered a review copy by the author, having previously reviewed another one of his books (Vicious Rumer). We also follow each other on Twitter. This didn't influence my opinion on the series.
HITTING THE STRIDE
Straight-up fantasy books are not my thing, but I'm drawn to urban fantasy from time to time, and I do enjoy my Supernatural 😊. That's why I decided to take a chance on this series. I won't lie - Book 1 left me a bit lukewarm. I understand that world-building is necessary and takes time, plus we see most events through Nicholas' eyes, while on the one hand he discovers a new, terrifying world, and on the other is smothered in secrets for his own protection (ha! the old excuse). But my main problem with Sentinel was that its atmosphere is oddly dated, and I couldn't help but feeling like I was reading a historical novel. Of course, old England plays a huge part in the series, with settings like Cambridge or Bury St. Edmunds, and it was indeed nice to be able to visit a world that doesn't come up often in YA - but I'm talking about something deeper here, that to me prevented the series to fully spread its wings. Not to mention, there were a few tropes in Book 1 that sounded too typical - recently orphaned and clueless kid destined to save the world, old mentor, secret room, you name it. Luckily, once I started Book 2, I got sucked up into the story: the author seems to find his feet in Ruins, (not only because most of the world-building and the secrets are out of the way), and Splinter is a poignant, strong finale - while the Witchpin novella, set in a distant past but tied to the events recounted in the trilogy, is a welcomed glimpse into a different era and the origins of a certain pivotal character. [...]
Whole review here.
July 10, 2018
Ruins is the second book in the trilogy. Nicholas has come to terms with who he is and what he must do. A war is coming and the Sentinels must gather their forces. Nicholas discovers that he has been prophesied as being a chosen one but also that he is part of a duo. The Trinity (the ancient good guys) foretold that this duo would save the world from The Dark Prophets. The twist is that no one knows who the other chosen one is and there is a race against time to discover them before the bad guys. Of course Malika is hard at work attempting to raise these prophets with the help of a truly terrifying demon called Tortor. Everyone is in danger and Joshua Winning is not averse to putting your favourite characters in mortal peril. Not everyone will survive!
June 2, 2015
Ruins picks up events not long after the end of book one. Nicholas Hallow is starting to settle into his life as part of the Sentinels. He is beginning to accept his place as part of a secret society tasked with protecting all humanity. Nicholas still has lots to learn however and so some on the job training is required. Working as Sam Wilkins assistant is the best way to learn, the old man has a knack for locating evil in all its many forms.
I was glad to see Sam appear again, he was probably my favourite character from Sentinel. I love his world weary, slightly jaded character. Liberty makes a welcome return, but there are also some cool new characters in Ruins. I particularly liked the trio of Benjamin Nale, Zeus and Merlyn. I hope they will all pop up again in the future. Though the focus of the novel remains fixed on Nicholas, it’s nice to learn a little more about some of the other Sentinels and their origins.
Winning has also introduced some characters roughly Nick’s age, and it acts as a good reminder that Nicholas is still young and has much still to learn. Getting different perspectives on events is a welcome inclusion. Dawn and Rae have both seen far more than your average teen and it is interesting to see how they have learned to cope. Rae has developed a defensive, spiky attitude, while Dawn is more withdrawn and shy.
Once again the demonic forces are directing all their energies towards raising the Dark Prophets and bringing about the end of all things. Nicholas learns that he may well be directly targeted, and that there is also another teen who is as equally important to the demon’s plans. What follows is a race against time. The Sentinels need to stop the forces of evil and their human thralls from unleashing an unspeakable evil.
When it comes to the second book in a trilogy, I am always on the look-out for a couple of things. The continuation of the plot has to make sense and fit well with the events that have transpired before. The narrative also has to point towards the overall conclusion of the series. The writing in Ruins accomplishes both of these tasks with ease. The feeling of urgency present in book one feels like it has increased exponentially. Events in the world of the Sentinels have consequences and repercussions. It is nice to see that things never happen in isolation. There is an over-arching story developing that is pulling everything together.
The good news is that my minor concerns in book one regarding all of the secrets and mysterious characters have been suitably addressed in book two. We learn more about the origins of both Nicholas and the always enigmatic Esus. Actually, the origins of Esus and the Trinity he serves are particularly cool. I would happily read an entire book based just around that.
Ruins feels like a more confident and self-assured book than its predecessor. This trilogy is shaping up nicely, and I have high hopes regarding book three. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing where the final book is going to take us. My nephews are avid readers and I reckon they would enjoy both Sentinel and Ruins. They just can’t get enough horror, especially demons for some reason*, and this series is turning out to be a damn good introduction to the genre.
Ruins is published by Peridot Press and is available now.
* I suspect this may be because they are demons themselves. Unfortunately, I have no conclusive proof.
I was glad to see Sam appear again, he was probably my favourite character from Sentinel. I love his world weary, slightly jaded character. Liberty makes a welcome return, but there are also some cool new characters in Ruins. I particularly liked the trio of Benjamin Nale, Zeus and Merlyn. I hope they will all pop up again in the future. Though the focus of the novel remains fixed on Nicholas, it’s nice to learn a little more about some of the other Sentinels and their origins.
Winning has also introduced some characters roughly Nick’s age, and it acts as a good reminder that Nicholas is still young and has much still to learn. Getting different perspectives on events is a welcome inclusion. Dawn and Rae have both seen far more than your average teen and it is interesting to see how they have learned to cope. Rae has developed a defensive, spiky attitude, while Dawn is more withdrawn and shy.
Once again the demonic forces are directing all their energies towards raising the Dark Prophets and bringing about the end of all things. Nicholas learns that he may well be directly targeted, and that there is also another teen who is as equally important to the demon’s plans. What follows is a race against time. The Sentinels need to stop the forces of evil and their human thralls from unleashing an unspeakable evil.
When it comes to the second book in a trilogy, I am always on the look-out for a couple of things. The continuation of the plot has to make sense and fit well with the events that have transpired before. The narrative also has to point towards the overall conclusion of the series. The writing in Ruins accomplishes both of these tasks with ease. The feeling of urgency present in book one feels like it has increased exponentially. Events in the world of the Sentinels have consequences and repercussions. It is nice to see that things never happen in isolation. There is an over-arching story developing that is pulling everything together.
The good news is that my minor concerns in book one regarding all of the secrets and mysterious characters have been suitably addressed in book two. We learn more about the origins of both Nicholas and the always enigmatic Esus. Actually, the origins of Esus and the Trinity he serves are particularly cool. I would happily read an entire book based just around that.
Ruins feels like a more confident and self-assured book than its predecessor. This trilogy is shaping up nicely, and I have high hopes regarding book three. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing where the final book is going to take us. My nephews are avid readers and I reckon they would enjoy both Sentinel and Ruins. They just can’t get enough horror, especially demons for some reason*, and this series is turning out to be a damn good introduction to the genre.
Ruins is published by Peridot Press and is available now.
* I suspect this may be because they are demons themselves. Unfortunately, I have no conclusive proof.
November 8, 2020
I received a copy of Ruin directly from the author Joshua Winning.
The second book in this Trilogy did not disappoint! You tunnel forward into a dark strange story that you can’t predict. I think this second book is an improvement from the first book. I felt a more regular pacing in this book, which I expected since it is the second, and enjoyed it from start to finish. The imaginative characters and descriptions pull you into the story and easily make it an attention keeper.
I, once again, found it very easy to visualize the story and characters. I still love Isabel. The characters are very well developed and the building relationships between them are tangible and well executed. I anticipate that this will continue into the third book of the trilogy. Often, I find myself attracted to a writing style even more than a storyline. I love both in this instance. Some books I will put down after the first chapter because the writing doesn’t make me feel anything. I love the texture in Winning’s writing style. It is more prevalent in this second book and I found myself reading sections of this book again because I enjoyed the imaging that I found through the texture in writing. I’m eager to read the final book!
This review, or links to this review, may also be found on my profile pages as follows:
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The second book in this Trilogy did not disappoint! You tunnel forward into a dark strange story that you can’t predict. I think this second book is an improvement from the first book. I felt a more regular pacing in this book, which I expected since it is the second, and enjoyed it from start to finish. The imaginative characters and descriptions pull you into the story and easily make it an attention keeper.
I, once again, found it very easy to visualize the story and characters. I still love Isabel. The characters are very well developed and the building relationships between them are tangible and well executed. I anticipate that this will continue into the third book of the trilogy. Often, I find myself attracted to a writing style even more than a storyline. I love both in this instance. Some books I will put down after the first chapter because the writing doesn’t make me feel anything. I love the texture in Winning’s writing style. It is more prevalent in this second book and I found myself reading sections of this book again because I enjoyed the imaging that I found through the texture in writing. I’m eager to read the final book!
This review, or links to this review, may also be found on my profile pages as follows:
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2...
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A3RJ...
Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/profile/A...
Pintrest http://www.pinterest.com/baltimore333/
Twitter https://twitter.com/chb548s
Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/107592987...
April 12, 2016
First of all, I have to say that this book had me reeling from the very beginning. Once again, we are pulled into the action straight from the start, and it doesn’t let up until the last page is turned. At times, I honestly felt bad for our characters because they could not seem to catch a break!
We meet some new characters this time, and they are just as lovely as the ones we already know. There’s Rae, who is a little hard to like, but she is very interesting, which helped me to cut her some slack. She’s very tough, but also vulnerable, which will make for some interesting developments in the next installment. We also meet Dawn. She is also from a Sentinel family, and I really liked her. She’s very shy, and very smart. She also likes purple! She was my favorite newcomer, probably because I related to her the most of anyone.
We also get to know some new bad guys, and Malika is back to bother us some more. She’s stronger this time, and just as entertaining! This story is darker than the previous one, giving us a closer look at the monsters that inhabit the world of the Sentinels. I was incredibly creeped out by the “big bad” monster. I get chills if I think about it too hard!
I feel like I absolutely flew through this book, only stopping when I really was forced to do so. So much happens and it just pulls the reader through in a whirlwind! The second half of the story really drew me in with so many twists that I honestly did not see coming. It makes for a wonderful set up for the next book. I’m really looking forward to learning how the rest of the story will unfold.
We meet some new characters this time, and they are just as lovely as the ones we already know. There’s Rae, who is a little hard to like, but she is very interesting, which helped me to cut her some slack. She’s very tough, but also vulnerable, which will make for some interesting developments in the next installment. We also meet Dawn. She is also from a Sentinel family, and I really liked her. She’s very shy, and very smart. She also likes purple! She was my favorite newcomer, probably because I related to her the most of anyone.
We also get to know some new bad guys, and Malika is back to bother us some more. She’s stronger this time, and just as entertaining! This story is darker than the previous one, giving us a closer look at the monsters that inhabit the world of the Sentinels. I was incredibly creeped out by the “big bad” monster. I get chills if I think about it too hard!
I feel like I absolutely flew through this book, only stopping when I really was forced to do so. So much happens and it just pulls the reader through in a whirlwind! The second half of the story really drew me in with so many twists that I honestly did not see coming. It makes for a wonderful set up for the next book. I’m really looking forward to learning how the rest of the story will unfold.
July 13, 2015
Ruins is the second book in this series. It is action packed, yet not a book that you can read quickly. This book is even more in depth than Sentinel. Nicholas is just now really finding how how serious his new calling is. His group has to find a specific girl, and her roll is more than anyone has considered. Nicholas and his friends are about to learn more, and go through more than can be crammed into one review while avoiding spoilers. Fighting demons, trying to avoid magic, or use it when necessary, losing people in horrific events, this book has a great deal occurring. The cat on the cover is important, and you have to have read the first book before you read this one!
I hope I am able to read the final book in this series, as the Tortor and other things in this book are strangely familiar, and very eerie. I do want to see how this ends.
My copy came from Story Cartel in exchange for my honest review and nothing more.
I hope I am able to read the final book in this series, as the Tortor and other things in this book are strangely familiar, and very eerie. I do want to see how this ends.
My copy came from Story Cartel in exchange for my honest review and nothing more.
May 25, 2015
'Ruins' is the second book in Joshua Winning's Sentinel trilogy, following the continuing journey of Nicholas Hallow as he gets deeper into the mysteries of the society his parents belonged to.
Having thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series I was keen to read this one and it didn't let me down. The twists were surprising and the journey of the main character was a little bit darker this time. I was captivated from the first page.
This is an excellent young adult horror/fantasy and I would highly recommend it to adults and teens alike. Start with book one and get ready for a gripping journey!
Having thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series I was keen to read this one and it didn't let me down. The twists were surprising and the journey of the main character was a little bit darker this time. I was captivated from the first page.
This is an excellent young adult horror/fantasy and I would highly recommend it to adults and teens alike. Start with book one and get ready for a gripping journey!
May 13, 2015
The book follows on nicely from book 1 with Edge of the seat action scenes and intriguing story line. The monsters / demons are extreamly well described. I can visualise them in my livimg room (not a good thing at 12 oclock at night), a real enjoyable read. Again the pace isn't fast but with this book it's not a bad thing.
I loved the cat...
Would recommend to those who liked Michael Scotts -'The secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel' series.
I am looking forward to where the author is going to take book 3.
I loved the cat...
Would recommend to those who liked Michael Scotts -'The secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel' series.
I am looking forward to where the author is going to take book 3.
May 14, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I did the first installment. I think that it has a wide audience. I'm not a huge fan of fantasy, but this book (and the first of the trilogy) kept me interested, and very entertained. The scene is set well, the story develops,. drawing you in as it goes.
I would definitely recommend this for just about anyone. If you think it isn't your style. give it a try, I think you will be pleasantly surprised!
I would definitely recommend this for just about anyone. If you think it isn't your style. give it a try, I think you will be pleasantly surprised!
April 16, 2015
The excitement grows in Book Two. Again, the writing is clear and direct, and the language and situations make the book suitable for younger readers. Yet the strongest feature is the story. New characters appear, and the adventure continues as all the powers of hell appear in new and grotesque forms to fight the sentinels. The story is exciting and engrossing. I can't wait for the final book.
April 21, 2015
Full review to follow. Copy provided by NetGalley for review purposes. Ruins was definitely more entertaining, gripping and generally informative than Sentinel. Definitely an improvement in the narrative style and general growth in the author's writing, I'm excited to see how the series concludes.
July 5, 2017
Nicholas has found out his parents were members of an underground society. He is a nearly discover guardian.with the mission to find the chosen one of the trinity. He is aided by a black cat (that can talk) named Isabel and Sam an aging ninja warrior. Will the chosen one be found in time? They must watch out for the evil Snelling who had tried to destroy the Sentinels.
The novel moves quickly to one adventure to the next. The mysteries pile up. Whoever reads this story won't be bored. I loved reading it even though I had not read the first novel of this trilogy.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The novel moves quickly to one adventure to the next. The mysteries pile up. Whoever reads this story won't be bored. I loved reading it even though I had not read the first novel of this trilogy.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
September 27, 2020
Unfortunately, more than somewhat overwritten again, whilst meaningful character development is sparse. The plot is straightforward if a bit predictable. This reads like a Buffy-inspired good guys versus demons piece. Let's see if the trilogy wraps up on a higher note.
December 5, 2023
Ruins The Sentinel Trilogy Book 2 by Joshua Winning
328 Pages
Publisher: John Catt Educational Ltd., Peridot Press
Release Date: May 18, 2015
Fiction, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Magic, Teens, Young Adult, British
Sam Wilkins, a sentinel is with Nicholas Hallo, a sensitive. They are on a quest to find a girl. The sentinels must stop the harvesters. Isabel, a talking cat is helping them. Rae has the physical power where Nicholas has the mental power. Laurent is back and looking for blood. At 14, he killed his entire bloodline. He wants to raise the dark prophets and bring darkness and chaos to the world.
There were too many characters to remember, and it was written in the third person point of view. I did not read the first book in the series, so I am a little at a loss. he ending felt rushed but not finished. I looked for the third book in the trilogy but could not locate it.
328 Pages
Publisher: John Catt Educational Ltd., Peridot Press
Release Date: May 18, 2015
Fiction, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Magic, Teens, Young Adult, British
Sam Wilkins, a sentinel is with Nicholas Hallo, a sensitive. They are on a quest to find a girl. The sentinels must stop the harvesters. Isabel, a talking cat is helping them. Rae has the physical power where Nicholas has the mental power. Laurent is back and looking for blood. At 14, he killed his entire bloodline. He wants to raise the dark prophets and bring darkness and chaos to the world.
There were too many characters to remember, and it was written in the third person point of view. I did not read the first book in the series, so I am a little at a loss. he ending felt rushed but not finished. I looked for the third book in the trilogy but could not locate it.
July 22, 2018
In Ruins I was delighted to see the return of some of my favourite characters from Sentinel. Sam continues to represent for older heroes, Liberty for the POCs, and we begin to see hints of LGBT representation, and not where I initially expected. Isabel continued to delight me with her feline wit, grump and feistiness.
I thoroughly enjoyed the world building and mythology and I’m curious to know if this is based on existing mythology or entirely from the author’s imagination. The story is split between various characters which almost had an action movie feel of changing scenes to follow the drama, although at times it was shrewdly tantalising (“Noooo, I want to know what happens to Sam next!”). I found the recaps of the previous book a little frustrating – it’s important to have the sequel readable either without the first novel or sometime after, so this isn’t a criticism of the author but rather a compliment, showing how eager I was to continue with the story.
There was some clever intrigue as to who the mysterious girl could be and which ‘side’ certain characters were on. The villains were both dangerous and interesting, and the eventual Big Bad was suitably terrifying. The Gentlemen in Buffy episode Hush? Yeah, that level *shudder*.
An excellent sequel to Sentinel that really drew me into this world and left me eager to dive back in for the finale, if somewhat anxious at what horrors may lie in wait!
I thoroughly enjoyed the world building and mythology and I’m curious to know if this is based on existing mythology or entirely from the author’s imagination. The story is split between various characters which almost had an action movie feel of changing scenes to follow the drama, although at times it was shrewdly tantalising (“Noooo, I want to know what happens to Sam next!”). I found the recaps of the previous book a little frustrating – it’s important to have the sequel readable either without the first novel or sometime after, so this isn’t a criticism of the author but rather a compliment, showing how eager I was to continue with the story.
There was some clever intrigue as to who the mysterious girl could be and which ‘side’ certain characters were on. The villains were both dangerous and interesting, and the eventual Big Bad was suitably terrifying. The Gentlemen in Buffy episode Hush? Yeah, that level *shudder*.
An excellent sequel to Sentinel that really drew me into this world and left me eager to dive back in for the finale, if somewhat anxious at what horrors may lie in wait!
July 9, 2019
Synopsis:
We join 15-year old Nicholas Hallow on his race to save the world. Although battered by his previous encounter with the forces of evil, the shadowy leader of the Sentinel forces assigns Nicholas with the task of finding the other half of his prophecy before a dark scheme comes to fruition. Untrained and afraid, Nicholas sets out with his (badass) aged guardian and a strange cat to find a girl who's expert at not being found.
Review:
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I discovered this book on NetGalley back in 2015; although the cover featured both my favorite color and animal, blue + kitty! It was the quote that got my attention. It reminded me of a classic that I read in HS, and the feelings of nostalgia led me to request the book. I read it almost immediately, but I refrained from posting the review as I felt that something was missing.
Fast forward to 2019; I am now re-reading this book after reading the first installation. All I can say is Eureka! I've found what was missing. I liked this story very much; the plot was excellent and well developed. Every situation was plausible, despite the magic, demons, and talking cat. Yup, I said talking cat and plausible in the same sentence. For example, the main character suffers an injury early on in the novel that he must learn to work around as the story progresses. Even though it proves to be a hurdle that he must be ever vigilant about, he presses onward through the pain. The mystery expertly revealed; I thought I knew what was going on right up until the plot twist on the last page. Granted, it wasn't a mind-jarring twist; it still gave me that "gasp moment." So, now onto what was missing.
I felt that I couldn't give this book a solid 4, perhaps a 4.5. It topped out at a 3.5 (rounded up to 4 as the story is great). As a stand-alone novel, I felt that the characters weren't given their due. I didn’t feel like I knew the characters even after completing the book. However, after reading Sentinel (Book 1) and re-reading Ruins, I am invested in the characters. Not having read the first book in the series, I was missing the "meat" of the story. Even Isabel's awesomeness didn’t come across clearly due to the holes. I won't dwell on this single downfall though as this is a great story for all urban fantasy fans. Just be sure to commit to the entire series. I am currently reading Splinter (Book 3) as I must find out how the story resolves and will do a full review on the Trilogy once I’ve finished the read through.
We join 15-year old Nicholas Hallow on his race to save the world. Although battered by his previous encounter with the forces of evil, the shadowy leader of the Sentinel forces assigns Nicholas with the task of finding the other half of his prophecy before a dark scheme comes to fruition. Untrained and afraid, Nicholas sets out with his (badass) aged guardian and a strange cat to find a girl who's expert at not being found.
Review:
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I discovered this book on NetGalley back in 2015; although the cover featured both my favorite color and animal, blue + kitty! It was the quote that got my attention. It reminded me of a classic that I read in HS, and the feelings of nostalgia led me to request the book. I read it almost immediately, but I refrained from posting the review as I felt that something was missing.
Fast forward to 2019; I am now re-reading this book after reading the first installation. All I can say is Eureka! I've found what was missing. I liked this story very much; the plot was excellent and well developed. Every situation was plausible, despite the magic, demons, and talking cat. Yup, I said talking cat and plausible in the same sentence. For example, the main character suffers an injury early on in the novel that he must learn to work around as the story progresses. Even though it proves to be a hurdle that he must be ever vigilant about, he presses onward through the pain. The mystery expertly revealed; I thought I knew what was going on right up until the plot twist on the last page. Granted, it wasn't a mind-jarring twist; it still gave me that "gasp moment." So, now onto what was missing.
I felt that I couldn't give this book a solid 4, perhaps a 4.5. It topped out at a 3.5 (rounded up to 4 as the story is great). As a stand-alone novel, I felt that the characters weren't given their due. I didn’t feel like I knew the characters even after completing the book. However, after reading Sentinel (Book 1) and re-reading Ruins, I am invested in the characters. Not having read the first book in the series, I was missing the "meat" of the story. Even Isabel's awesomeness didn’t come across clearly due to the holes. I won't dwell on this single downfall though as this is a great story for all urban fantasy fans. Just be sure to commit to the entire series. I am currently reading Splinter (Book 3) as I must find out how the story resolves and will do a full review on the Trilogy once I’ve finished the read through.
May 24, 2017
This is one of the galleys I'm reviewing thanks to NetGalley - a massive thank you to Peridot Press for granting me access to the title.
I started reading this a rather long time ago now (way over a month). It's not a particularly long book, but neither was the previous novel and that took me a pretty long time to get through, too. Hmm.
Following the first book, this novel is focused on Nicholas Hallow, who has just discovered his Sentinel heritage. He's still learning but has finally realised how important his existence is.
Nicholas is to use his Sensitive powers and is also required to unlock certain knowledge within his mind. He has to find a girl, a girl who is important for reasons he doesn't yet know. But how does he find a girl he's never met before?
Laurent is attempting to revive the Dark Prophets, bringing terrible destruction to Bury St Edmunds in the process. Nicholas must find the girl to stop him, and he needs to get a hold of his powers, too.
There are a few nice fight scenes in this, and some hints of mystery and suspense. But I can't get past the lack of time passing in this series, and the lack of character development. I don't feel like I'm living the book along with the characters, and I don't feel that the characters are real. There's just something very wrong with the pacing of these books.
It's not a bad book, but there may actually be a bit too much description. As I said, the pacing really ruins (hah!) these books for me, sadly. I'm going to have to say 2-3 stars for this.
I started reading this a rather long time ago now (way over a month). It's not a particularly long book, but neither was the previous novel and that took me a pretty long time to get through, too. Hmm.
Following the first book, this novel is focused on Nicholas Hallow, who has just discovered his Sentinel heritage. He's still learning but has finally realised how important his existence is.
Nicholas is to use his Sensitive powers and is also required to unlock certain knowledge within his mind. He has to find a girl, a girl who is important for reasons he doesn't yet know. But how does he find a girl he's never met before?
Laurent is attempting to revive the Dark Prophets, bringing terrible destruction to Bury St Edmunds in the process. Nicholas must find the girl to stop him, and he needs to get a hold of his powers, too.
There are a few nice fight scenes in this, and some hints of mystery and suspense. But I can't get past the lack of time passing in this series, and the lack of character development. I don't feel like I'm living the book along with the characters, and I don't feel that the characters are real. There's just something very wrong with the pacing of these books.
It's not a bad book, but there may actually be a bit too much description. As I said, the pacing really ruins (hah!) these books for me, sadly. I'm going to have to say 2-3 stars for this.
March 8, 2016
Difficult to judge this book. First of all I have not read the first volume, and this is particularly harmful to the understanding of events, plus, it is clearly aimed at an age group that is not mine, and, last but not least, the writing is rather dull.
I thank John Catt Educational Ltd and NetGalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Difficile dare un giudizio a questo libro. Innanzi tutto non ho letto il primo volume, e questo pregiudica notevolmente la comprensione degli eventi, in più è chiaramente mirato a una fascia di età che non è la mia, e, ultimo ma non meno importante, la scrittura è piuttosto noiosa.
Ringrazio John Catt Educational Ltd e NetGalley per avermi fornito una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta.
I thank John Catt Educational Ltd and NetGalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Difficile dare un giudizio a questo libro. Innanzi tutto non ho letto il primo volume, e questo pregiudica notevolmente la comprensione degli eventi, in più è chiaramente mirato a una fascia di età che non è la mia, e, ultimo ma non meno importante, la scrittura è piuttosto noiosa.
Ringrazio John Catt Educational Ltd e NetGalley per avermi fornito una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta.
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