The Lost Sentinel

Silent Sea Chronicles #1

by Suzanne Rogerson

The island of Kalaya is dying, and it’s up to Tei, an exiled mystic, to save it.

But with the Assembly attempting to eradicate all mystics, can Tei find the missing Sentinel and save her island home before it’s too late?

The Assembly controls Kalaya. Originally set up to govern the island, they now persecute those with magic and exile them to the Turrak Mountains. As a tailor’s daughter, Tei has always hidden her magic until her father’s old friend visits and warns they’ve been discovered. As they flee to Turrak, they are ambushed. Mortally wounded, her father’s deathbed confession reveals a dangerous secret that will change Tei’s life forever.

Tei joins the exiles in their search for their new Sentinel - the only person capable of restoring the failing magic in Kalaya. But Masked Riders are hunting the Sentinel too, and time, as well as hope, is running out. Tei must risk everything she loves to save Kalaya, but is she ready to make that sacrifice?

If you like multi-dimensional characters in intricate worlds, then you’ll love The Lost Sentinel - the spellbinding novel that kicks off the action-packed fantasy trilogy Silent Sea Chronicles.


'...this story bowled me over, it was an absolutely outstanding epic fantasy and the kind of writing fantasy authors should be aspiring to.'

'...Suzanne Rogerson can certainly make you forget time... A super start to what is going to be a sensational story, just make sure you are part of it from the beginning'

'THE LOST SENTINEL contains plenty of action, intrigue, and challenges throughout, making this a thrilling fantasy adventure... it whisked me away to someplace magical, alluring, and dangerous.'

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Magic

363 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 15, 2017

About the author

Suzanne lives in Middlesex, England with her husband, two children, a crazy cocker spaniel and a rather aloof cat.

Her writing journey began at the age of twelve when she completed her first novel. She discovered the fantasy genre in her late teens and has never looked back. Giving up work to raise a family gave Suzanne the impetus to take her attempts at novel writing beyond the first draft, and she is lucky enough to have a husband who supports her dream - even if he does occasionally hint that she might think about getting a proper job one day.

Now an author of four fantasy novels and three short story collections, Suzanne hopes the dreaded ‘W’ word will never rear its ugly head again!

She loves gardening and has a Hebe (shrub) fetish. She enjoys cooking with ingredients from the garden and regularly feeds unsuspecting guests vegetable-based cakes.

Suzanne collects books, is interested in history and enjoys wandering around castles and old ruins whilst being immersed in the past. She loves to escape with a great film, binge watch TV shows, or soak in a hot bubble bath with an ice cream and a book.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The island of Kalaya has a magic in it's land. There are those who live there that feel that connection and because of this also share in this magic. They are the mystics and the protectors. But not all that dwell on the island feel this connection, the non magic folk of the land are becoming more and more fearful of magic and it's users, this is due to the Assembly. A group of men who feel magic is poison and because of this those who are connected to Kalaya are living in fear hiding their magic or becoming exiled from their homes. If not they are hanged.

The land is vast with many towns and villages, farm lands and sea ports. And in the mountain range there is the village of Turrak, the land that is the home of the mystics and their protectors and deep with in the mountain there lies the Sentinel, he is old and nearing passing. It is he who helps keep the magic of Kalaya alive.

Tei and her father after a mysterious older man pays them, specifically her father, a visit have to flee the the Seatown village in which they live in the dead of night because word of that the Assembly is coming. He has always told her to hide her abilities, her magic. Unsure of why she has to abandon her home, friends and the life she has, her father explains to her they they are now exiles, to head to the mountains, to the village of Turrak, his home land.

It is in Turrak that she discovers that the hope and future rests with her, for it is she who will have to find the new Sentinel, before the others do. Time is running out.

The Last Sentinel is an Epic fantasy filled with a wide range of characters, which is told from multiple points of view. Each story line connected to the other, in twinging as you go deeper.

I found this book to be well written, very plot and character driven, with fantastic world building. It didn't leave me lacking or wanting. Looking forward to continuing on with Silent Sea Chronicles and what ever else Suzanne Rogerson writes in the future. She is an author to keep yours eyes on.

I Can Has Books?

[Sofii♡ (A Book. A Thought.) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really GOOD!. I think it has a great world building and it has kept me entertained from the beginning to the end. I want to remind you of the importance of supporting our inde authors, they really need and appreciate our support



4/5 Stars

You can find this one and more of my review on my blog A Book. A Thought.


It's so hard to explain what exactly this book is about, I think I couldn't do better than the synopsis and I'll not try it lol.


From the first chapter I knew that I would enjoy this book a lot and I wasn't wrong about. I'm delighted to having accepted to review it. When you jump into a fantasy new world you know that there will be a lot of information that you'll have to process, sometimes this can be overwhelming but I didn't feel that with this book, I think that the way in which the story is told is brilliant, I really like the intrigue that delivery with each chapter, I just needed to know what would happen next, so it's very difficult to put it down

The world building is incredible, it's my favorite aspect of the book and I think it's the best achieved. The descriptions are exceptional, without doubts.


The characters are great, I liked them a lot. I think I would have appreciated that they had developed a little more, especially some secondary characters that seemed very intriguing for me, they have a lot of potential though, and I hope to see that growth in future books. There is something very noble especially in the main characters, and I liked the fact that the plot follows several stories and jumps between different characters constantly

There is a lot of travel in this book, the plot revolves around a search, so the characters travel from one place to another all the time, so I think that if you like this aspect in fantasy, it's very well achieved. Personally it's not something that I usually enjoy, when the characters are in constant movements sometimes you lose the main idea of the book, you know?. But even so, I think this is one of the few cases in which that hasn't bothered me at all, I think there are many things happening all the time so there is no way to get bored


There are in fact a couple of deaths in the book and absolutely unexpected moments that have made me feel so bad! I didn't see anything coming and I didn't really expect to feel so touched by it, but I did.

The writing style is very good I like how you can feel what is happening so intensely, you can feel when something is about to happen and that made me feel super hooked with the book. When a book makes you feel that kind of strong emotions is because it has done something right. It's quite dark, and I think it can work if you want to start that transition between YA-fantasy to Adult-fantasy.


I recommend it a lot if you want to read an addictive fantasy, with a great world building, variety of characters and a unique magic aspect of which I don't want to talk much cause I think it will be fun for you to discover it on your own.

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Full spoiler-free review now on my blog

The main plotline takes place in the world of Kalaya. On the one hand, we have the normal people ruled by the Assembly who have turned their back on magic and blame the fact that the land is dying on the people who wield it. On the other hand, we have the exiled magic-wielders who found their refuge in the mountains and build a home there. They are led by a powerful figure called the Sentinel, but the current Sentinel is dying and there needs to be a new one to safe the land from dying. I liked that this is a story where magic isn't necessarily seen as something good by the people of Kalaya, even if it's based on prejudice and ignorance. However, I would've liked more explanation about how this conflict came to be and how exactly this is connected to the island and its magic.

The magic system itself is rooted in nature itself and the connection between all living things and the earth they live on. Some people are able to wield this magic and our main protagonist Tei is even able to traverse into the astral world where the spirits go to after death. I loved this harmonious, spiritual concept of magic and the fact that there needs to be a balance for everything in order to keep the island alive. The people connected to the island even see it as their duty to guide all spirits into the afterworld to ensure that they find their way and are reunited with the island.

There is also another scenery that takes place on a very barren and unhospitable island called Stone Haven. The people who live there now had to flee their homeland because it was raided by pirates and they are now dependend on seafare to survive. This setting had a dystopian feel for me and it was very gripping to see how these people overcome their struggle and start a new life on this island that isn't very inhabitable.

The characters and their development were the weakest point of the book in my opinion. We first follow Tei, who has to flee with her father to the mountain refuge because of her magical abilities. She is very insecure and shaken by the unfolding events and the fact that her father gets killed along the way. She doesn't know what to expect from the exiles and her new life among them. I liked that she bonded with Rike and Garrick, the two exiles that helped her and her father during their journey, and expecially Rike is a very interesting character. But Tei's perspective is frequently intermitted by two other perspectives and I felt like this was the reason I couldn't really connect with her. There's one scene in particular where there is a lot of "telling" instead of "showing". Tei goes on a journey to bond with her protector and we are told that they really felt closer at the end of it and that Tei had grown since she came to the mountains. There is simply too little time with Tei to see her development and the connections she makes with people around her unfold.

One of the two other perspectives mentioned earlier is Brogan's. He is a simple farmer on Kalaya when his father gets ill and he has to take over his seat in the Assembly. He gets in contact with magic early on when he discovers that his farm helpers daughter can wield it, but he doesn't believe in the rumors and wants to protect her at all costs. I liked that we get to see the Assembly with its leader Rathnor through his eyes and how Rathnor carries out his campaign against the exiles and all magic wielders on Kalaya. However, I would have liked more details about Rathnor's motivations and actions, since he is the story's villain and I prefer my villains to have some motivation apart from just being evil for the sake of it.

The last perspective takes us to the other island I mentioned earlier. We follow Farrell, who is the current commander of the Stone Haven fleet. He has a heavy burden to carry since his deceased father was the man who saved the people from being slaughtered by pirates and brought them to this island. He is in charge of sailing the isles around Stone Haven to bring back food and other materials that aren't easy to get or cultivate on his new home. Even though I can't pinpoint exactly why, I liked his perspective the most. There's also a counsel ruling Stone Haven that feels very similar to the one on Kalaya.
I'm very curious to see how Farrell's, Tei's and Brogan's storylines will correlate and what will happen to the people of Stone Haven.

Overall, the story and the characters have a lot of potential and I enjoyed reading this book. There are a lot of times where we follow the characters on their way from one point to another and I feel like this could have been cut in favour of getting to know the characters even better and to give the world a bit more depth. Nonetheless, I would recommend checking out this book if you like fantasy stories that take a twist on the well-known chosen one trope and that are told from several point of views that feature different parts of the world contributing to the overall story.

I received a digital copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Colin Garrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forced to hide her magical powers from the ruling Assembly of Kalaya, Tei and her father are warned that they must flee to stay safe. Embarking on a journey to seek out other exiles, Tei’s father is mortally wounded. Leaving her in the care of the exiles, the young woman discovers that her new companions have high expectations of her. Agreeing to help the search for the new Sentinel, Tei is thrust into a world of masked riders, magic and adventure.

While I will say the audiobook is superbly narrated by George Ellington, I did wonder why the author (presumably) chose to include sound effects – they detract from the skill of the narrator and, for me at least, added nothing to the story. That aside, the story is well told, and the characters are an interesting lot, with vivid descriptions of the people and scenery. The usual issue I have with fantasy tales is the author’s tendency to stick to a fairly standard format – young person with magical powers finds him/herself thrown into a situation which they alone can resolve. The Lost Sentinel doesn’t break any new ground here and while Ms Rogerson is a very competent author, it would’ve been nice to see something different. Perhaps because fantasy isn’t one of my favourite genres, I expected too much, but having read a variety of imaginatively written fantasy stories (such as those by Ernesto San Giacomo and Jean Lee), it’s clearly not impossible to break the mould.

All whinges aside, this was an enjoyable book that held my attention well, albeit mainly due to the narrator’s skill in bringing the authors work to life.

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting premise

Kalaya is a land where magic has been forgotten and now it is dying. The people with magic have all been driven to the mountains and there they are trying to live, away from the normal people. The magical people are led by the Sentinel and now the Sentinel is dying.
Tei is the MC and she has been trained to hide her powers all her life. Her journey to find the next Sentinel and find a way to save the island along with her friends, makes the entire story.
The world building was amazing. The lands of Kalaya and Tei’s powers of astral projection were so vividly described that it was beautiful to read about it.
Tei’s journey and the twist in the end added to the enjoyment of the story. Liked it.

[Jéssica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't the first book I have read of Suzanne Rogerson, but it is the start of a series and I was quite excited about this. In this book we get transported to Kalaya and a magical world that will make the reader want to read more and discover what the characters will do, and how the story will develop.

The fact that the book is in the third person POV made it wonderfull for me because I felt like it was easier to connect with all the characters and understand their thoughts and feelings, and if it were in the first person POV and changing character's POVs with each chapter of scene the flow would feel fragmented to me. So I loved that it was so open and the pace was flow sometime and quick in others so I could get the full experience of this journey.

Speaking of the characters. When we first met Tei, and we are introduced to the world and the time period in this book, I was very curious. So Tei is one of my favorite characters, not only because she was the first one I connected with, but also because of her personality and background story.

And of course we meet other characters that take an important part in the plot and that I hope I can see even more growth in terms of their characteristics and personality and attitudes. Then again this is book one, of course things will change and more information will be revealed, that's one thing I'm excited about in terms of the characters.

The fun thing about reading a series, is that everything changes as time goes by and with each book more question and answers we have. As we gradually turn the pages and discover a new key character, scene or question that will make every sense once it's time. But one things I absolutely loved, besides the realism that some characters had, was the world building.

This fictional fantasy world was so vivid in my mind thanks to all the descriptions. Actually the all book was great for so many reasons, including the descriptions. All the details and the interesting characters and world made it possible for me not only reading this book almost in one sitting, but also, as soon as I was done with it to jump right into the second book. I was so excited to learn more and to see what was going to happen next that I couldn't resist.

Overall, this is a fantastic adventurous, magical and drama fueled first novel, that took me on a journey and made me wish I could just visit Kalaya once for a bit, just to see the land and learn about the history by being there. So if you have read Suzanne Rogerson's other book "Visions of Zarua", you may like this book to, so check it out.

[Aisling O'Rourke · Rating 3 out of 5]

----Spoiler Free Review----

The Lost Sentinel by Suzanne Rogerson is the first book in the Silent Sea Chronicles. It is told in the third person perspective from a full cast of characters, and takes places in the fictional world of Kalaya. The world is made up of mystics- those who have the ability to wield magic, and protectors- those who protect the magic users. However, the current sentinel is dying, and if the next sentinel is not found in time the magic of Kalaya will die too.

There were a number of things that I did and didn’t enjoy about this novel. I admired that the author wasn’t afraid to make sacrifices throughout the story, as this made the novel more gripping, since no character was truly safe. These unexpected moments throughout add great suspense to the novel, which keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

The multiple points of view enable the reader to experience events unfolding from different perspectives. I really like this in novels, as often we a biased account of events when novels are told from the first person perspective of just one character. It also enables the reader to whiteness other events occurring on the island of Stone Haven, and the impact these events will have on Kalaya both in this book and future books.

On that note, I liked how well the ending of this first book sets the scene for the next book in the series. I won’t give too much away, but there is a certain character guiding the leader of Stone Haven who is thought by this leader to have good intentions, but is later revealed to have his own nefarious agenda.

Unfortunately, I feel that the main downfall of this novel is the lack of character development. This is most apparent with the character of Tei. She is a girl who loses her father in the first few pages of the book, and she has island magic. She is the main character of the book, yet I found it difficult to connect with her. This is because there wasn’t enough of the story told from her perspective, and so it was difficult for me to become invested in her character. At the same time however, I feel that this is something that can be improved upon in the next book, as the reader will get to know her character, as well as others in more detail.

Another aspect of this book that I didn’t enjoy was the relationships formed in this novel. I felt they were too rushed and underdeveloped, characters falling in love when they hardly knew each other. It was difficult to support some of these relationships as I didn’t see them as being very genuine. However, I think this is something that future books can be built upon, as there will be more opportunity to get to know the characters.

Finally, the pacing of the novel. It felt rushed in places, the storyline moving too quickly, which resulted in a lot of ‘telling’ instead of ‘showing’. I also think that more time should have been dedicated to the major moments in the novel, to flesh them out and make them more memorable for the reader.

Finally, this is a fantasy series I would like to read more of, as I feel that the aspects of this novel that I didn’t enjoy can be improved in future books in this series. I give this book a rating of 3 out of 5 stars. Most of all, I just need more time to get to know and love the characters! Thank you to the author Suzanne Rogerson for sending me an e-book of this novel to review.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The following review was originally posted on Another World

Would the mention of people being hoodwinked into acting against their own interests by an unscrupulous political leader, exploiting their ignorance and prejudice to persuade them to scapegoat a minority group for all their problems, cause you to think of real world events? It probably would; as would the plight of refugees; as would hardships brought about by environmental issues. In this respect, The Lost Sentinel (book 1 of a new fantasy trilogy) by Suzanne Rogerson, is a very topical novel given that theses themes very apparently served as inspiration for the story, and are central to its plot.

The principal setting for this first book of the Silent Sea Chronicles is the island nation of Kalaya. It is a land imbued with magic, connecting it inextricably to the islands minority population of mystics who are able to use this magic. But Kalaya’s magic has been diminishing, bringing with it hardships such as the failing of crops. This state of affairs has resulted in antagonistic feelings towards the mystics by Kalaya’s majority, non-magical inhabitants, provoked largely by the ruling body called the Assembly that has enthusiastically scapegoated all the island’s mystics.

In their ignorance, the people have embraced the persecution of the mystics and their protectors, eventually driving most of them into exile in the mountains, little realising that the well-being of the island is directly linked to the well-being of the mystic population in general, and their leader known as The Sentinel, in particular.

It is against this backdrop readers are introduced to the book’s heroine Tei, a young mystic raised since birth by her single father, Migil, who has always taught her to conceal her magic. The story begins in earnest when Tei finds her world turned upside down in the wake of a mysterious stranger visiting her father. Subsequent to the visit, Migil insists that it is no longer safe for them to remain in Seatown, and that he and Tei must leave their old life behind to join The Exiles living in the Turrak mountains.

Unsurprisingly, the journey isn’t quite that simple; there are forces at work intent on preventing them from reaching their destination, embodied by a shadowy group of hunters known as the Masked Riders. Unbeknown to Tei, she has a destiny to fulfil that will have a major bearing on the future of Kalaya; a destiny brought into sharp focus by a shocking revelation made in the aftermath of a deadly attack.

It would be easy to assume that The Lost Sentinel is yet another cliché fantasy tale of an orphaned “chosen one” who is destined to save the day. Initially, that certainly seems to be the case; and it’s actually not too far from the truth, as it happens. However, Tei isn’t technically the chosen one of the tale, although she does have a key role to play in helping The Exiles to locate the book’s titular character (who must be found in order to succeed the aged and dying current Sentinel) before they can be hunted down by those working for the nefarious leader of the Assembly, Rathnor, who clearly has a hidden agenda for wanting to wipe out the mystics of Kalaya.

As is often the case in fantasy, the utilisation of any well-worn trope can make a story easy to predict. In that regard, it’s fair to say that The Lost Sentinel progresses in a rather predictable fashion. The one genuine surprise is Rogerson’s willingness to kill off her characters; not even prominent, main characters are safe. But that being said, it’s still an open question as to how much readers will care about the demise of these individuals. Though it can be taken for granted that most readers will be sad at the passing of the more likeable characters, there remains a distinct possibility that at least some readers will feel as though they didn’t have the opportunity to get to know these characters well enough to be affected by their untimely deaths.

The book’s narrative moves at a consistently rapid rate, which is actually to its detriment at times; this is especially true during the early chapters. This pacing issue would probably have been less pronounced if the story was told exclusively from the viewpoint of a single character. As it is, the story is told from multiple points-of-view, so during the opening few chapters the all too frequent shifting of POV results in the introduction of a new character before enough time has been devoted to fully establishing the previous character. A slower start to the story would have helped to mitigate this issue by allowing the assorted POV characters to be introduced at a more gradual pace, and increasing the amount of time given to readers to get to know them. (A reduction in the number of viewpoint characters could also have helped without harming the narrative.)

It’s probably worth mentioning the one viewpoint character who really stands out from the rest, not necessarily because he is the most interesting, but because he is at the centre of a secondary storyline that, though connected to the main plot, feels very tangential to it. Farrell is the commander of the naval fleet of a refugee population living on a harsh, barren island, called Stone Haven, who unwittingly finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy to instigate war against the mystics of Kalaya, after being contacted by a mysterious telepathic voice. Due to how disconnected this storyline feels from the events taking place on Kalaya, it would have been better for the book, structurally, if this sub-plot unfolded in chapters dedicated solely to it. Unfortunately, though this storyline is a compelling one, the decision to have Commander Farrell’s scenes regularly interspersed with those of characters on Kalaya, within the same chapters, occasionally makes those scenes feel like interruptions.

The aforementioned gripes are, admittedly, subjective and will not likely resonate with readers who favour fast moving, action-packed narratives. More detail oriented readers, however, would probably be happier if some of the pace and action was sacrificed for the sake of deeper characterisation, and more immersive world building. An increased focus on the core characters, in particular, may have provided longer character moments that could have given readers further insights into various individuals, in terms of personality, motivations and backstory. As it is, the swift narrative means readers won’t really get to know the characters as well as could have been the case. On the whole, the main characters feel more like casual, passing acquaintances rather than close, intimate companions.

The rapid pace also impacts the believability of certain aspects of the book’s character dynamics and relationships. Because it is easy to lose sight of how much time has actually elapsed, in story, over the course of a brief number of pages, it is easy to forget how long characters have known each other for. Consequently, readers can be forgiven for being confused by just how upset Tei is about the death of a character she first met, seemingly, no more than two dozen pages earlier; though a reminder that a few months have passed during those pages makes it more understandable. However, even taking the passage of time into account, the various romantic entanglements that occur are much harder to reason. It just doesn’t ring true for characters to fall in love with people they barely know (in Tei’s case, with someone she hasn’t actually met yet), not to mention how strange it seems when a character is lusting after somebody, one moment, only to be rolling around beneath the sheets with someone else shortly after this person’s death.

(At this point it’s only fair to make clear that, for personal reasons, I invariably find almost all depictions of romance in works of fiction unbelievable, so I’m probably not the best judge. In this case, the above criticism can probably be ignored by readers who are able to appreciate depictions of romance in the books they read.)

Having initially been attracted to the book due to its similarity to Glenda Larke’s, The Last Stormlord, at least in terms of the basic premise, it has to be said that any similarities between the two books ends there. The Lost Sentinel lacks the more sophisticated political intrigue found in Larke’s tale; nor does it possess the intricate world building that characterises her book, though this is obviously an unfair comparison as very few novels have settings realised in such great detail and originality as that which graces Larke’s work. But it is certainly the case that readers who are drawn to deep and rich world building will probably find Rogerson’s setting a little too shallow for their tastes. That being said, one of the highlights of the book does come from the author’s world building; it takes the form of an alternate plane of existence that Kalaya’s mystics can reach while in a trance like state, allowing their souls to leave their bodies to enter the Astral Plane. Rogerson’s depiction of the Astral Plane, and the events that take place within it, is actually very cool.

All in all, The Lost Sentinel is an enjoyable read with the requisite qualities that will see it find favour among the young adult fantasy audience. It might not be appreciated to the same extent by people outside that readership, some of whom may feel that the book lacks the necessary depth and sophistication in its writing to be quite as rewarding a read. This shouldn’t be interpreted as The Lost Sentinel being poorly written, because it isn’t. Rogerson’s writing style is clear and concise, making her prose very effective at conveying a story; all it really lacks is the literary finesse inherent in the writing of veteran, established authors of the calibre of Jacqueline Carey, Guy Gavriel Kay or Lois McMaster Bujold. Nonetheless, in spite of its limitations, The Lost Sentinel succeeds in doing what every first book of a trilogy needs to do; be good enough to entice readers into wanting to read the next instalment.

Before concluding this review, it’s probably worth addressing an issue that is frequently held against books by indie authors. Self-published works have a reputation for being poorly crafted, woefully written, devoid of adequate editing, and generally being in an unfit state to warrant being published. This reputation is not completely unjustified as such books are very easy to come across. But prospective readers of The Lost Sentinel can rest easy in the knowledge that it isn’t one of these novels. While you will probably spot the odd typo, here and there, it won’t be significantly more than you would expect to encounter in a traditionally published book. You might also stumble upon the occasional awkwardly worded or structured sentence, but nothing sufficient to detract from the reading experience.

In conclusion, The Lost Sentinel is an action-packed tale that makes good use of some interesting, topical themes, making it well worth a read. It also provides more than adequate evidence of Rogerson’s storytelling chops. If she can build upon this in future by finding a more harmonious balance of plot progression, character development, and world building, then coupling it with stronger writing, there is no reason why she cannot eventually become yet another self-published fantasy success story alongside an author like Michael J. Sullivan.

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book of Suzanne Rogerson’s that I have read so I felt that I had some sort of idea of her writing style but wow has she raised the bar. What makes it even more exciting is that this is the first book in a trilogy so I know it is going to be one hell of an epic journey for both the characters and readers alike.
I soon developed character envy after reading the opening chapter, Tei  even as a child, had the gift of leaving her body and wondering as a spirit on the astral plane, pretty cool, but there are some rather dark forces there that need to be avoided. She is warned to keep her abilities secret or else she will put herself in grave danger.
Nine years later a knock on the door results in Tei and her father leaving their home to find safety in the Turrak mountains as the hunt to rid Kalaya of anyone with special abilities is enforced by the Assembly.  Kalaya’s economy, crops and good fortune are failing because the Sentinel that radiates magic into the Island is slowly dying. The failures have then been blamed directly onto anyone with any sort of magical power which in turn has caused quite a ‘witch hunt’ for the sake of a better couple of words. Tei and her father flee only to be pursued.  As more of the Islands population decreases it become imperative that a new Sentinel is found but the problem is no one knows who it could be.
When tragedy strikes Tei and her father she has to put her trust with two strangers that become her protectors. They know that Tei is to play an important part if the Island is to be saved. Now I don’t think anyone will read this book without really loving Garrick. He  is a top notch bloke in every way possible, a little swoon here I think. The story takes a turn as Tei is not only hunted she is also now the hunter to find the next Sentinel. This journey becomes an absolutely top class quest to find the one person that could possibly be the special one.  It isn’t like just anyone can take on the role.
Oh my Suzanne Rogerson can certainly make you forget time. I was just totally absorbed in this journey. A journey of hope not just for the people but for the essence of the whole island if it is to thrive again. Do be warned though this author is not only relentless she is ruthless. So much that she can bring you to tears. There are countless characters on this journey but it is like you only take what you need from each section. A super start to what is going to be a sensational story, just make sure you are part of it from the beginning

[LJ (ljwritesandreviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I said to myself this year, I wanted to read a little more fantasy, it’s a genre that I keep meaning to read more of. The blurb of The Lost Sentinel, the first of the Silent Seas Chronicles, really intrigued me and I love anything that contains magic so I thought I’d give it a go!

Tei is a tailor’s daughter, living an ordinary life, hiding her magic as it is feared and blamed for all that goes wrong on the island of Kalaya, until the day her powers are discovered and she is forced to run.

Forced into hiding by the Assembly and their Masked Riders, Tei hides in the mountains with the other exiles. She is soon tasked with finding the lost Sentinel who will restore magic back to the island. Is Tei ready for such a challenge?

The Lost Sentinel is a fantasy quest that combines moral questions with magic and imagination to create a compelling read.

There is some great world building and description in the story, I enjoyed learning about the rules and intricacies of Kalaya. There’s also a number of different viewpoints throughout the story which I think really added to the overall story, showing Kalaya from different perspectives, so you really got the sense of the place and the people within it.

There are some interesting characters throughout. It centres round Tei, Brogan a farmer forced to become a part of the Assembly after the death of his father and Captain Farrell, who is look for a place for his displaced people. Tei is headstrong and more than a little stubborn which gets her in trouble a fair bit but you just can’t help rooting for her. I did feel like at times her character wasn’t as strong in comparison to Brogan and Captain Farrell but I feel like it leaves it open for her to grow more in the next novels.

So as this is the first book, it’s setting up for the next books in the series, which it does well but at times I felt the pacing was a little off, sometimes it meandered along, other times it went a breakneck speed but of course that’s just my opinion.

If you love fantasy with intricate world building and a good old fashioned quest at its core then I think this is a book you would really enjoy.

[Rebecca L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

read the audiobook of Visions of Zarua by this author last year, so I was very interested when she offered me the opportunity to read the first book in her fantasy series The Silent Sea Chronicles. As a person who is visually impaired, I really love audiobooks. I listen to them all the time and my favorite app for doing so is Audible.

Like her standalone novel, Visions of Zarua, the Lost Sentinel is set in a medieval fantasy world that operates with a “soft magic” system. Also, like Visions of Zarua, the book starts out as a bit of a “slow burn.” However, as the story moves along, the pace quickly picks up and you begin to deeply care about the characters and their quest.

Growing up, “old school” fantasy was one of my favorite genres. Fans of classic “sword and sorcery” will find a lot to love about Rogerson’s work. What is particularly delightful is that she manages to put a fresh spin on a classic genre. Her imaginative storytelling and creative world building combine to put a unique spin on the comfortingly familiar quest formula. I enjoyed getting lost in this immersive listening experience.

The narrator of The Lost Sentinel did an excellent job. He even included some small and significant sound effects (a door knocking, a baby crying, the rocking of a ship at sea) that helped bring the story vividly to life. My only complaint is that the narrator’s accent, combined with the fantastical names, made it a bit difficult for me to understand him at times. I usually listen to audiobooks on three times speed, but I had to read this one more slowly because of his accent. However, this did not detract from my listening experience.

If you’re a fan of authors like Ursula Le Guin or Mercedes Lackey, you will definitely enjoy the writing of Suzanne Rogerson.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Characters
I felt like I had a good connection with the characters and I understood most of their thoughts and feelings. I would have liked a bit more depth with their development but I was still satisfied with what I knew about them.

Tei was clearly a confused young woman and I understood her troubles and fears. I was a little thrown by the development of her love interest but the rest of her character seemed quite believable.

There were lots of point of view changes and this sometimes interrupted the flow of the book. There was one character, Farrell, that particularly confused me early on and I was unsure why we were being told his story. I would have suggested holding off on his story until a bit later in the book to allow more focus on the other main characters in the early stages.


Plot
I found the beginning of the book fairly predictable, but the predictability significantly reduced soon after. Some of the events and outcomes really took me by surprise.

I occasionally felt a little impatient with the pace of the advancing plot. There was always something happening but it felt like it took a long time to get to the main part of the story. However, this left me wanting answers, which is a good quality for a book to have.

I also do not quite understand why the sentinel was lost in the first place. This might be explained in later books but I think more detail about the subject should have been included.


World
I was confused by the use and limitations of magic. There did not seem to be clear rules for what magic could be used for and so I had no idea what characters were capable of doing.

I absolutely loved the visual descriptions. I do not think I can stress this point enough. It is my favourite aspect of this book. The level of description goes well beyond anything I have read recently and I never found myself unsure of what a place looked like. This alone is enough to make me want to read more and it definitely motivates me to step up descriptions in my own work.


Grammar and Writing
This book was really well written. The sentences flowed well and the quality of writing really stands out. I came across a few errors like missing capital letters at the start of a sentence, and maybe a sentence or two that seemed a bit confusing, but the rest was great. It was easy to forget that this was only the second published book for the author.

The detail in the writing was also strong and descriptive. I found myself in tears over the death of a character that was never even introduced just because the funeral was so emotional.


Overall
I know I have picked out several things that I would have liked done differently, but this really was a great book. It has definitely sparked my interest for the rest of the series and I look forward to the release of the next book.

It is also a book I would highly recommend to other writers who are struggling with their descriptions.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you know me, you know I jump at the chance to read a new fantasy book, so when The Lost Sentinel became available, I knew I needed to read it. I’m really glad I did!!

Let’s start with the world building, which is very important in a fantasy novel. Suzanne Rogerson excels at it. The world is incredibly detailed, and I could imagine myself there.

The characters are really good. Most were developed really well, and I was able to distinguish between them. My only critique is that some of the secondary characters felt a little flat. However, because this is a series, I imagine the growth will happen throughout and I am not too upset about this. The fact is, Suzanne Rogerson was able to have the reader follow several stories and jump between characters without confusion.

I highly recommend checking this one out. It’s addictive, fast-paced, with some really fantastic world-building. I can’t wait to continue in this series!

*I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*

[I.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A newly found writer

Like a lot of people, I'm a little hesitant about reading indie writers, but I had none of that trepidation with this book. Roberson has created an exciting new world with characters i care about enough to want to read the next book (and any that follow)! My only criticism were the love matches, which all seemed to come out of nowhere, but afterwards did take a believable track. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read epic fantasy with characters you'll root for.

[Suzanne Rogerson]

UPDATE 20th Feb 2021

The Lost Sentinel is 99p!

Plus you can pick up book 2 for 99p as well, but the sale ends 25th Feb.

'...It’s addictive, fast-paced, with some really fantastic world-building...' Goodreads reviewer.

The audiobooks are out now, so you can pick them up at a huge discount if you download the ebooks.

[Cat Strawberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, after reading this book I am emotionally drained…but in a good way. ‘The Lost Sentinel’ is the first book in the ‘Silent Sea Chronicles’ fantasy series and is an amazing read!

The book starts by introducing us to a young Tei who has the ability to walk the Astral Plane but has a terrifying experience while there. Nine years later and Tei’s life is shattered when she and her father have to flee their home in order to be safe. At first the story was easy to get into. The action surrounding Tei running away and what happens when meeting with Rike and Garrick was exciting to read and I really got into this book right away but as the tale progresses we are introduced to more characters and more viewpoints and the story becomes more complex and interesting.

The book is written in the third person but jumps about between several different characters throughout the story. Although this was hard to grasp at first, it felt like a movie. Everyone’s tales are different with most stories happening on the island of Kalaya, but not all. Each story seems unconnected to anyone else’s at first, but as the plot progresses the connections are revealed and each story is an exciting one on its own.

The plot is really dark. There’s an undertone of darkness and fear already, with what Tei experienced as a child and the overall fear of being caught, but the whole book really has a dark edge with a lot of death including some key characters which leaves you shocked and upset and maybe even crying…I actually had to take a breather when reading these moments as it was so unexpected. But these deaths soon make sense to the plot and I am amazed at how unpredictable and good this book is to read.

Being a darker fantasy read there’s some violence and deaths but very little swearing with a rare few uses of the b words and only one use of the s swear word. There’s nothing else offensive in this book. Although the story has a really dark undertone with shocking moments, I really enjoyed it. I love a dark plot and this book really doesn’t disappoint with shocks and surprises throughout. I do have one criticism though and it’s a shame as it’s the only reason I give this four rather than five stars. As I’ve said the book changes viewpoint often which makes it more exciting and really pushes the overall plot forward, however this viewpoint switching happened too often in the beginning. While Tei’s storyline was easy to follow and grasp in my mind, as the first chapters were only about her (meaning I got to know her well and the characters she meets), I struggled to remember the other characters and their storylines. I did have to put down the book for a day as life got in the way, which didn’t help, but getting back into everyone’s stories except Tei’s was hard as I forgot who was who at first. It wasn’t until I was about a quarter of the way into the book before I really started to enjoy it and solidified all the characters and their individual stories into my mind.

Overall this is an amazing and gripping fantasy read. It’s a long book but filled with a lot of great action and a perfect fantasy setting ( there are no fantasy type creatures just humans). The world of Kalaya is rich and dark and I’m amazed at how sucked into the action I was reading this, and how unpredictable and dark the storyline is. The ending is a satisfying one but the story is far from over, it’s only beginning and sets up questions for the next book in the series and I can’t wait to read it!
-Thanks to the author for a free copy.

[Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit I’ve never read any of Suzanne’s books shes wrote. I will have to get around and get reading as they sound amazingly good. If you have been fortunate to have read her other books then you know you wont be disappointed in reading this book



Kalaya (what a beautiful name for a magical island) sounds like the most majestic and beautiful magic island that you want to go to and see. Well I do anyway 🙂

We have a little girl called Tei. She is a daughter to a tailor. A mysterious man visited her father one night with a warning that they had to leave for the mountains. Masked raiders and the assembly are on the hunt with anyone with magical bloodlines and powers. Tei and her father manage to escape from their town. On their mission to the mountains they get surrounded by there captors until they get help of two amazing characters in this series. Rike and Garrick who are two bad ass mofo’s who take no shit and are as hard as nails.

She arrives at Turrak where her life is turned upside down. Tei has to get used to her new life in the mountains. The elders visit Tei and give her the task of finding the new sentinel for the people and the island. Tei has been told that the island is slowly dying and the magic protecting the island is slowly dwindling away. Due to the sentinel dying. So is the sentinel (the protector of the island)

Tei’s task now is to find the new sentinel to save her people and the island itself. So Tei Rike and Garrick set of to bring the sentinel to her new place at Turrak to save the island and it’s peopl. Tei’s travels have her going through some difficulties in her young life. She falls in love, she has to deal death, meeting new people, living in a strange place and how to deal with her new abilities that she never knew about. Trials and tribulations.



I would give this book a 5/5 I fell in love with it from the start. Looking forward to the third book (second book is amazing aswell review will be up soon)

The world building is really well written. It feels like you’re in the book with these amazing characters and on the beautiful island of Kayala.



Short review: Get this book if you like anything to do with magic fantasy it’s amazing. I was going to put this at the top but you wouldn’t of read my review 😉

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantasy lovers need to be celebrating right now because “The Lost Sentinel” is being released this week! You do not want to miss this first in a new series from Suzanne Rogerson. The story takes place on the island of Kalaya where the magic that sustains life on the island is dying. Tei and her father are forced to flee their home in the night because Tei has a magical gift. The Assembly is cracking down on those with magic in an attempt to completely rid the island of magic. Tei must flee to the mountains of Turrak, the only place where those with magic can live in peace. When she arrives in Turrak, she quickly learns that she is the Confidante to the next Sentinel. The problem is no one knows who the next Sentinel is, and Tei is the only one who can find out. After her harrowing escape, and being narrowly rescued by Rike and Garrick, Tei must quickly learn about her power and then embark on a dangerous journey, always looking over her shoulder for the Masked Riders who would destroy her.

I love the characters in this story. From Tei, the reluctant seeker, to Garrick, the hunky hero, you get a broad range of personalities. One of my favorite things about this author is her ability to develop her characters in a way that feels natural and flows well within the story. In the same way she develops her fantasy world. There is no heavy world drawing passages but you get your knowledge of the way things work as a natural part of the story. For example, the reader discovers the tunnels and caves of Turrak as the characters are discovering them. And then you have the story itself which is full of surprising plot twists, moves at a really great pace, and draws the reader in from beginning to end. As with the author’s first book, I cannot say enough good things about this book. I am so excited that this world will be a series so I can hang out with these characters again next year. You will not be sorry if you read this book.

[Sissy Lu {Book Savvy Reviews} · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 3.5 savvy crowns.

This book grabbed my attention, to begin with. A fantasy novel that revolves around an astral realm, the heroine is somehow connected to it and holds great importance. I smelled a quest! To which I shouted, yes, yes, yes!

Initially, I was so intrigued by the idea of this, Tei was a likable character and drew me into the story, but soon into the story more than a few characters were dropped in and I found the stories began to branch off. For me, this caused issues because I lost sight of the main story and at some points, I found myself a little frustrated because I wasn't trying to remember what the premise is about. When it came around full circle back to the main story I enjoyed it, but the distraction of the supporting roles was just - well it was distracting.

The characters in a whole I felt needed more development, there were often unexplainable shifts in the character, they suddenly felt this way without any development that is seen. I like to read these developments and not just be told that it has happened.

If you're not easily distracted as a reader then I don't think you'd have the aforementioned problem like I did. Each character/side story is an interesting one, to be sure, that adds up to the main story. Each character is relevant, each character achieves something, but for me, it was just an overload.

As far as the world and mechanics of said world, it is explained and created wonderfully, without heavy info drops.

This is my second read by Rogerson and again, as before, I do applaud her work.

So if you're into high fantasy, definitely consider this read.

- Website - Facebook - Instagram -

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 4 out of 5]

We start this story on the island of Kalaya, which is an island that is slowly dying. There a group of people called the Assembly has the rule of the land and enforces that any magic user needs to be killed since they are the ones killing the land. We meet Tei, a tailor’s daughter that has magic and has been using it since she was young.

One day her magic is discovered and her and her father must go on the run to the mountains where the exiles live, other magic users. But the trip is perilous and they are attacked. She is told by her father that the Sentinel, who can restore the land and magic, needs to be found.

At the same times we also follow a young man that takes his father’s place on the Assembly. He has a secret, a young woman on his farm uses magic and he wants to keep her safe no matter what the cost. We also follow a young man from the island of Stone Haven, a brutal place where people rely on raiding to survive. A young commander finds himself draw into war with Kalaya and the magic users.

There is a lot going on in this book besides just the world building. I loved this world and how it was written without a huge info dump. I loved the concept of twisting people’s beliefs of magic users into fear to control. I felt for Tei and her father and was saddened by her loss. But Tei has a lot to accomplish to find the new Sentinel.

Although it was nice to see the world from other’s eyes I think this drew away from Tei’s story. I wanted to see more of her growth in this world. But it does show that there is so much more happening than just the exiles and the rest of the population.

I think this is a great start to a new series. I am very curious to see what happens in the next book and recommend anyone that likes fantasy stories to check this book out.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

[Jo Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the author and Rachel’s Random Resources for the copy of this audiobook in return for my honest opinion. The story started out strongly for me, and the shock of Tei’s father’s deathbed confession and her grief made me feel for her. Forced to trust the two strangers who had known her father and were tasked with her safety, Tei’s journey took her on a voyage of discovery about herself, her heritage and her future.

But then I seemed to lose my connection with Tei. On reflection I think my interest was piqued more by secondary characters’ arcs, such as Brogan and Captain Ferrell. I also have a personal preference for female protagonists to take control and Tei spent a considerable proportion of the story plagued by a lack of confidence in her ability to connect on the astral plane with the Sentinel. Once her strength began to come across later in the story, I became more interested in her again and inwardly cheered her on as she began to believe in herself.

I found Rogerson to be adept at taking the reader along different character arcs without causing confusion, as each made an impression on me. I savoured my journey to the island of Kalaya as the rich description had me visualising the scenes with ease.

Moving on to the narration, George Ellington’s gentle Gaelic accent helped create the immersive experience of listening to the story rather than reading it. I was able to keep up with who was talking due to his slight changes in pitch and dialect too. My one critique would be the sound effects, such as swords clanging or a couple of seconds of fire crackling; I felt Rogerson’s writing and George’s narration would have been enough to give me those impressions without them being added but I know some people prefer sound effects.

Overall I thought the story and world were well constructed, the characters well defined and the narration complimentary to the essence of the tale. I’m giving The Lost Sentinel 3.5/5 stars and recommend it to those who enjoy fantasy sagas with a historical feel.

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Lost Sentinel' by Suzanne Rogerson is a fantasy story that is the start of a series. I have never read or listened to any of Suzanne's work previously so this was my first foray into her fantasy worlds. This story is set in the magical island of Kalaya and the main character is Tei, a young girl, who is the daughter of a tailor. A mysterious man visited her father one night with a warning that they had to leave for the mountains. Masked raiders and the assembly are on the hunt with anyone with magical bloodlines and powers. Tei and her father manage to escape from their town. On their mission to the mountains they get surrounded by their captors until Rike and Garrick a couple of amazing characters help them.
Tei and her father arrive in Turak, a village in the mountains and obviously her life is turned on it's head. She has a visit from the Elders who give her the task of finding a new sentinel for her island and it's people before it and they die. This sends Tei, Rike and Garrick on another journey in which she has to find the sentinel and get return them to the island will they be able to do this before time runs out?
A story in which the authors world building is exceptional, I was immersed in Tei's story from beginning to end and the characters were fantastically developed. I thought Rike and Garrick were great! The fantasy world with the quest for Tei kept me gripped and I needed to know what would happen before I stopped listening. I plan to read the next book in the series as soon as I am able.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Suzanne Rogerson for my audio version of 'The Lost Sentinel'.

[Shilpa · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘The Lost Sentinel’ was a little different from the other fantasy books I have read, mainly because it involved pirates and this was my first read that involved them! Thank you Suzzanne for bringing me to the world of pirates! 😀

The story basically proceeds in three parts, one follows Tei and her search for the Lost Sentinel, the second follows Farell and the people of Stone Haven who just want a good life away from the hardships they have to endure day in and day out. Lastly there is Brogan, an apparent singleton who hates the oppression of the Assembly against magic in the land. Even though these seem poles apart, they go along well. Two of the flows even meet in this book itself and I can clearly see how the third one will join in!

While I enjoyed the book, there were things I was left wanting more of.. like the details of the magic system, a better build-up of romances. One particular spoiler-y romance was my favourite though! Sorry, can’t say without spoiling.. 😦 Also, I felt there was a lot more potential in the story/book that what came out of it.. 🙂

I really liked Garrick.. he is one nice and tough guy.. I enjoyed the book but with a fair share of heart break.. Fangirls love heart-breaks and authors love to break hearts it seems! 😛

For more reviews visit https://livinginfictionsite.wordpress... :)

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book introduces you to Tei whose life takes a turn after an old friend of her father's warns them to leave their life behind.

With "The Lost Sentinel", Suzanne Rogerson presents us with several interwoven plot lines, one covering Tei and her companions, another getting closer to Brogan, and a third one is on Farrell. All plot lines are relevant, even if I admittedly had a ranking for them i.e. one that I could not get too warm with. The story is skilfully elaborated, comprises interesting turns, and has a great flow. Suzanne Rogerson introduces each character with finesse, providing them with sufficient depth for their respective relevance. I was drawn into the story right away - very close to Rike and to Brogan, highly appreciating their integrety. I will presumably get closer to Tei in the second instalment, when she has gained a little more maturity. I could easily envision the characters and locations. I had a great time reading "The Lost Sentinel". It is a very enjoyable read.

This is for you if you like urban fantasy, very likeable characters to cheer on their thrilling trip, integrity, surprises, and great storytelling.

This is a book/series to read again. Highly recommended.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose to listen to this book after receiving a free audio copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Kalaya is an island nation whose people no longer embrace magic; in fact, they persecute mystics and their protectors. Mystics now hide in the mountains. Tei is a young mystic whose father has taught her to hide her magic. After a visit from a stranger, he decides that it is time for Tei and him to leave for her safety. Tei hides with the other exiles, but she has an important mission: to find the lost sentinel before the current sentinel dies.

The author has done a great job at world building. It was interesting learning about Kalaya and its people. The characters, however, could have used more development. I wasn’t able to connect with the characters, even Tei. Hers is one of three stories that I’m sure will eventually all merge. The second story is about Brogan whom Tei has a connection with although they’ve never met. Farrell is probably my favorite character of the three. He is the captain of a ship but he wants more for his family and his people, and he’s wanting to make some difficult changes.

The narrator has a voice I really enjoy listening to. He also did well with pace and timing.

The Lost Sentinel is a fantasy that many readers will enjoy. I think it should be read with the realization that it would be preferable to read the trilogy, because although the ending was good, it’s not really a stand alone.

[Anita Dawes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The magical island of Kalaya is dying, along with its guardian, the Sentinel. This is caused by the ruling Assembly with their determination to rid Kalaya of magic and the people who practice it, thereby giving them total control of the island and its inhabitants. The people go along with this, for they are starving and believe that magic is the cause.
As the people turn their backs on magic and the people who use it, Tia is forced to flee to the Turrak mountains with her father to join the other exiled inhabitants. Shades of Game of Thrones here, as the leaders of Kalaya battle to be victorious against the Exiles.
I began to despair of Tia’s future, convinced that she was the lost sentinel. This was enforced by the conversations she has with the dying sentinel. But when the dying Sentinel declares Tia as the ‘confidante’ to the next Sentinel, I hoped he was wrong.
I knew this book to be the first in a series but was unprepared for such a cliff-hanger at the end. The people of Kalaya had a new sentinel, but it wasn’t Tei after all. Their new world was a mess with more disasters looming.
There are several villains in this story, and I was hard pushed to say who was the worst. I have the feeling it will turn out to be Rathnor, as his motives are the strongest.
Although I was a little disappointed there wasn’t a little more magic in this story, it was a frustrating and exciting beginning to what promises to be an extraordinary series.

[Maxine Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Full review up on my blog

The Lost Sentinel is a character driven fantasy set in the beautiful land of Kalaya. Here the magic runs deep through the land, giving to the people and as they pass on, their magic is absorbed back into the land. The Sentinel guards the magic, holds it tight, protecting Kalaya and the people, but as times pass people begin to forget. People with magic are exiled, new people rule who begin pushing for magic to be banned. Things are going wrong on the astral plane as well, souls aren't making it through the gates, there is something in the dark, waiting, lurking, taking the souls for itself.
When Tei's father dies and she discovers the strength of her own magic, the Sentinel is old, he is losing his grip on the magic of the land. If the new Sentinel isn't found soon, Kalaya will no longer be protected.

[Myreadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank CreateSpace Publishing and the Netgalley website for this partnership.

I was immediately attracted to the cover and the summary.

The story takes place on the island of Kaya which is magical but she is dying. All those who use magic are exiled in the mountains.

Tei, a tailor's daughter, hides her magic but one day she is forced to flee to the mountains. But on the way her father is wounded to death, he will reveal things to her that she never thought she would discover one day. She will have to find the sentinel, the only person capable on this day of restoring magic. But she's wanted by some strange riders.

A first book full of suspense and twists and turns as well as a captivating, moving story. I loved the characters, looking forward to discovering the book two.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this character-based fantasy.

I'm not going to go into the plot as the synopsis does a much better job of it than I could, but I will say the storyline was brilliant.

The wide and varied cast of characters, both the good and the bad guys, were multi-dimensional individuals and most were easy to connect with. A lot of the characters had interesting back stories which added to the storyline and made their actions understandable.

The world building and visual descriptions were amazing, I could always see the surroundings in my mind, whether it was the barren island of Stone Haven or the wonderful home of the 'exiles' in the mountains.

All in all, it was a well written, fast paced book, with plenty of action that kept me turning the pages.

Suzanne Rogerson has created a wonderful world, and thankfully I was able to dive straight into the second book of the series.

[Freddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was entertaining with good world building. While I enjoyed the characters, they could have been developed a bit deeper. The pacing of the narrative is a bit quick and I wanted to have more time to understand the characters. The frequent Point of View changes and scene breaks were a little distracting as well. So for me, the story flow could have been smoother.

Even with these pacing issues, the story is well-written, the characters believable, and the plot entertaining. The different character arcs came together pretty well in the end, although it is not really a stand-alone story. The ending is obviously written with a sequel in mind.