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beautiful_chaos1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
arentzkala's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
3.75
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
A kind of light-ish fantasy. There wasn't really that much worldbuilding, fine there are different kingdoms and a sea, and one kingdom likes to conquer others..ok. Not what I call lots of worldbuilding. And the magic part, I guess it's hereditary? How do people get different powers? I do not know, I was not told. I was just told the bad kingdoms killed everyone with magic and another continent did not.
The story then. A curse is making people into bloodthirsty beings. There is one way to stop it so the magic peeps comes to the bad kingdom to get a prince. The one prince who can stop it, then one who has magic. The judgmental idiot who judges before seeing facts, gods that one part that happened made me so mad. i would have beaten him to a bloody pulp. I could take the idiot things he said but that one part. Yes I do NOT like Harkeld.
The magicians, shapeshifters are a nice group. Innis is the one in focus, she is young and being built as Harkeld's love interest. She thinks he has hidden depths, and sure he has, just as he stops being an idiot. I liked his friend more.
A lot of people are hunting for them. So there is action and at the end I did want more. Sure I complained about stuff, but it was light and fun and I will read more.
Oh I forgot, there is also this young boy fleeing for his life. And Harkeld's half sister who has to married a creep who is only there to have smexy times with her.
The story then. A curse is making people into bloodthirsty beings. There is one way to stop it so the magic peeps comes to the bad kingdom to get a prince. The one prince who can stop it, then one who has magic. The judgmental idiot who judges before seeing facts, gods that one part that happened made me so mad. i would have beaten him to a bloody pulp. I could take the idiot things he said but that one part. Yes I do NOT like Harkeld.
The magicians, shapeshifters are a nice group. Innis is the one in focus, she is young and being built as Harkeld's love interest. She thinks he has hidden depths, and sure he has, just as he stops being an idiot. I liked his friend more.
A lot of people are hunting for them. So there is action and at the end I did want more. Sure I complained about stuff, but it was light and fun and I will read more.
Oh I forgot, there is also this young boy fleeing for his life. And Harkeld's half sister who has to married a creep who is only there to have smexy times with her.
al0812's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
phantomfears685's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jenken131's review against another edition
4.0
The book follows Prince Harkeld as he attempts to destroy three anchor stones located across the Seven Kingdoms in order to stop a devastating curse. As well as following the prince throughout his journey the book follows the story of his sister Princess Britta, and a boy Jaumé, who because of the curse is now an orphan. Gee’s story telling ability allows the reader to flow seamlessly throughout the story lines while being entertained, and the transitions are never out of place or distracting. Although I found Jaumé’s story line a little lack luster I never imagined skipping his POV unlike other fantasy titles (*cough* Game of Thrones *cough*). On the other hand I enjoyed Britta’s story line more than I originally anticipated and I am excited to see how her character continues to grow into the strong woman that I know she can become. At times Prince Harkeld can seem a little snooty and his hatred for the mages is addressed a bit too often. Despite this I like Harkeld and his character started to grow on me throughout the novel, and I believe he adjusts to his new situation pretty well. For someone who has just discovered that he has to stop a devastating curse that will sweep through the entire country and kill millions of people, and he must do this while working with people he has been told are lower than dirt and commit heinous acts throughout his entire life, he adjusts pretty well. He also realizes that the curse can be stopped with just his hands and blood, Harkeld doesn’t even need to be alive to stop the curse. Therefore, I consider his attitude somewhat justified and his slow change expected.
The highlight of this novel for me is the world and magic system Gee creates. Mages can have a number of different abilities with the most popular in this novel being shapeshifting, fire magic, and healing. The shapeshifters are what separates this book from other fantasy novels, or maybe I haven’t read enough books with shapeshifters in them. Gee addresses the number of times a shapeshifter can shift, what shapes the shifter can take, and how many of these different shapes the shift can master. A lot of work goes into being able to master the form that the shapeshifter wants to take, the shifter needs to know the detailed anatomy of the animal he/she wants to take. Once a shapeshifter takes a form it is accompanied by some disorientation as the brain adapts to the new form. When Innis first takes the form of the armsmen Justen that will protect Prince Harkeld the body feels wrong and heavy to her. As she shifts into Justen’s form she breaks two of the Primal Laws that govern mages, and the job of a Sentinel Mage is to enforce these laws to prevent them from being abused. Innis broke one by changing gender, and another by taking the shape of another human. There are other rules for what a shapeshifter can and cannot do in another body. Every time I turn around Gee is answering a question I didn’t even know I had about the shapeshifters and the world of the Sentinel Mages without being overbearing. By far the most interesting part of Innis’ shift to becoming Justen is her mental state. The longer a person spends in a form other than their own the more likely it is that they lose their mind, and I hope Gee will shed more light of Innis’ mental state in the continuing novels.
Despite The Sentinel Mage being a classic chase style novel and the reader knows point A and B, Gee makes the adventure in between engaging and interesting with the right mix of action, character development and history.
The highlight of this novel for me is the world and magic system Gee creates. Mages can have a number of different abilities with the most popular in this novel being shapeshifting, fire magic, and healing. The shapeshifters are what separates this book from other fantasy novels, or maybe I haven’t read enough books with shapeshifters in them. Gee addresses the number of times a shapeshifter can shift, what shapes the shifter can take, and how many of these different shapes the shift can master. A lot of work goes into being able to master the form that the shapeshifter wants to take, the shifter needs to know the detailed anatomy of the animal he/she wants to take. Once a shapeshifter takes a form it is accompanied by some disorientation as the brain adapts to the new form. When Innis first takes the form of the armsmen Justen that will protect Prince Harkeld the body feels wrong and heavy to her. As she shifts into Justen’s form she breaks two of the Primal Laws that govern mages, and the job of a Sentinel Mage is to enforce these laws to prevent them from being abused. Innis broke one by changing gender, and another by taking the shape of another human. There are other rules for what a shapeshifter can and cannot do in another body. Every time I turn around Gee is answering a question I didn’t even know I had about the shapeshifters and the world of the Sentinel Mages without being overbearing. By far the most interesting part of Innis’ shift to becoming Justen is her mental state. The longer a person spends in a form other than their own the more likely it is that they lose their mind, and I hope Gee will shed more light of Innis’ mental state in the continuing novels.
Despite The Sentinel Mage being a classic chase style novel and the reader knows point A and B, Gee makes the adventure in between engaging and interesting with the right mix of action, character development and history.
lilacwire's review against another edition
4.0
The ending seemed a bit abrupt, like it was cut more for length than for finality, but I am looking forward to diving into the second book.
lyndiane's review against another edition
4.0
Although the story is fairly well written, certain aspects are a trifle overdone, more specifically Harkeld's self loathing is exaggerated and out of character with the 'man of honour' aspect of his personality.
That being said, the story is not a difficult read, and was sufficently captivating to keep my attention for the two days it took me to read the book. I will be starting the sequel this evening.
That being said, the story is not a difficult read, and was sufficently captivating to keep my attention for the two days it took me to read the book. I will be starting the sequel this evening.
ceridwyn's review against another edition
3.0
I really hoped that with shapeshifters changing sex there'd be more gender politics. Over the rape too. But an interesting world and galloping plot.