WHAT DID I JUST READ? I have no idea, but I know I had an absolute blast and loved it so much! :D
Picture a fantasy world with (surprise!) modern times (not here, but similar to our time-period), and some fantasy elements like mind superpowers; then add an apocalypse, secret military agents out to wreak havoc, lovable characters (including an awesome sarcastic ex-sniper), snarky conversations, and loads of humor, all wrapped up in a layer of suspense, with a dash of Christian-allegory undertones—and you have a unique, well-written, good-clean-fun novel called Sentinel, which reads almost like an action-movie (but funner)! Definitely outside of my normal reading, and I’ve never read anything like it, but I so enjoyed it!
Reasons why this book is awesome:
+ Jet! First I have to mention Jet Valinor, who is a new favorite character and definitely a top reason for liking this. He’s my favorite kind of dark, growly, snarky, mysterious, dangerous, but awesome, with a heart of gold, type character. He’s got mind-power skills and military skills and generally you want him on your side when there’s covert military ops attacks, apocalypses, or general problems of any kind. He’s also got excellent snarky lines. What is not to love about Jet? Even without all the other awesomeness (of which there was lots), Jet just totally made the book for me. :D
+ Buddies-who-aren’t. I don’t know about you, but I LOVE stories about two characters who are thrown together and REALLY don’t get along but have to work together. And when one of them is a rather flippant teenage boy (our hero, Darien), and the other is dark, no-nonsense Jet who is not going to put up with stupidity... you know it's going to be awesome. They kind of hate each other but are the best and have such excellent interactions AND I JUST LOVE IT SO MUCH.
+ Banter/humor. Coming right up on that last one, there is SO much awesomeness in the form of Darien and Jet bickering, and general snark and humor, plus some of the writing is humorous too.
+ Right there, you have four of my favorite things, all rolled up in this book: an awesome favorite character, a buddy-story (where they aren’t... yet. ;)), humor, and hilarious snarky banter. SO MUCH YES. But oh, you want more reasons?
+ Fantasy! Fantasy makes everything better.
+ Mind-powers etc. which are called Aether, and the different kinds people can be include Arbiter (mind-things like telepathy or memories), Sentinel (use it like striking force), Valnah (emotions), Vanguard (making walls of force), and rare ones like Healer, or Sage (seeing the future).
+ Road-trip! Okay, so it wasn’t a huge part of the story, but I SO enjoyed Jet and Darien stuck in a car together with only Sorvashti to act as peace-maker. So much gold. :D
+ So original and unique—this world and everything is just new and I loved it.
+ It’s well-written and gripping.
+ The other characters are great too and the different cultures etc. and mysteries and hints are really interesting.
+ Everything else—just read it already!
Reasons why I thought I wouldn’t like this book (but actually loved it):
+ It’s modern, which isn’t my favorite — but it’s modern /in another world/ and somehow isn’t the usual blech of many modern books.
+ It’s apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic (which is a close relation to dystopian, which is a no-no for me, and in general I’m not the biggest fan of the world ending?) — but again, being in another world... I don’t... actually... mind? Plus we didn’t actually /see/ the end of the world happening, since it was kind of off-screen (“Looks like the apocalypse started without us.” — one of my fave quotes in the book) and I’ve heard it’s just going to move more toward general fantasy-world kinds of things with less technology in later books. And because it’s not OUR world, I don’t actually mind, somehow!
+ It is definitely SUPER intense and suspenseful, which might have gotten too much for me, but the humor keeps rolling in to keep it a little more light-hearted.
Warnings:
It’s kind of violent/intense/scary, but that’s it. Basically a great YA novel! It certainly kept me breathless on the edge of my seat! O_O (I’m not sure if I remembered to breathe in the last third of the book. Whew. *collapses*)
Overall:
I loved this book and can’t wait to read the next one! (Largely because WHAT EVEN JUST HAPPENED AT THE END? I need Arbiter right now.) I’m quite hooked by this world and in love with these characters, and I can’t wait to find out where the rest of the series is headed. :D All in all, an excellent (if different) book. ^_^ *hugs it*
Favorite quotes:
“Easy for you to say. You already know what your power is.”
“They’re called ‘gifts’,” Tera murmured, “and I’m pretty sure yours is impatience.”
***
Levi yelled something about volleyballs being expensive.
***
Darien racked his brain for the smallest reason he could have been summoned by something as scary-sounding as ‘the Grand Master council’.
***
He squinted and found a fresh crack snaking from the right windshield wiper to a small spider web in the center. “Speaking of bad news, you owe me a thousand credits.”
It’s the end of the world:
“Cool. So, the world is ending, but who cares, right?”
***
“So it’s the apocalypse and special forces are after us. Awesome. We’re all gonna die.”
Darien and Jet:
“That’s enough,” Jet said.
Darien froze. “What?”
“Jet! Would it kill you to be nice?” Aleah shot Jet a disapproving look, then gave Darien a sheepish grin. “I’m sorry. He’s just... introverted.”
Jet snorted and looked back out the window.
/And a psycho./ Darien forced a laugh. “No problem.”
***
/Is ‘Thracian’ his dad? Why does he call his dad by his name and not ‘Dad’?/
Jet barely contained a growl. He could call Darien out on it—again—but this time it’d be just as awkward for himself. /Note to self: get him to build mental shields. Immediately./
***
Darien’s thoughts ran over Jet’s like a freight engine.
***
“Why not?”
“Because it’s dangerous, you idiot! And untested and stupid.”
Darien grinned. “Did you just call yourself stupid?”
Jet sighed. “I should have left you in Katrosi.”
***
(I love them so much. ^_^)
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