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Friday, 21 June 2019

#BlogTour The Lost Sentinel by Suzanne Rogerson


Today it's my turn on the BlogTour The Lost Sentinel by Suzanne Rogerson. It's the first book in the Silent Sea Chronicles trilogy and the first book on this two book tour. It's high fantasy with solid world-building and an interesting set of characters.

For the duration of the blog tour all books in the Silent Sea Chronicles series are 99p.
About the Author
Suzanne lives in Middlesex, England with her hugely encouraging husband and two children.

She wrote her first novel at the age of twelve. She discovered the fantasy genre in her late teens and has never looked back. Giving up work to raise a family gave her 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.

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

She collects books, loves going for walks and picnics with the children and sharing with them her love of nature and photography.

Suzanne is interested in history and enjoys wandering around castles. But most of all she likes to escape with a great film, or soak in a hot bubble bath with an ice cream and a book.

Follow @rogersonsm on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads, on Amazon, on Bookbub,
Visit suzannerogersonfantasyauthor.com
Buy The Lost Sentinel


About the book
The magical island of Kalaya is dying, along with its Sentinel.

The Assembly controls Kalaya. Originally set up to govern, they now persecute those with magic and exile them to the Turrak Mountains.

Tei, a tailor’s daughter, has always hidden her magic but when her father's old friend visits and warns them to flee to the mountains she must leave her old life behind. On the journey, an attack leaves her father mortally wounded. He entrusts her into the care of the exiles and on his deathbed makes a shocking confession.

Struggling with self doubt, Tei joins the exiles search for the new Sentinel who is the only person capable of restoring the fading magic. But mysterious Masked Riders are hunting the Sentinel too, and time, as well as hope, is running out.

Against mounting odds it will take friendship, heartache and sacrifice for the exiles to succeed in their quest, but is Tei willing to risk everything to save the island magic?

Review
Tei's world is turned upside down when her father decides life in Kalaya has become too dangerous for them, because of the magick they both carry within them. As yet Tei is unaware just what exactly her talents entail, and she isn't prepared for the expectations her new world will lay upon her.

Her father reveals a devastating secret on his deathbed, which may make other people rethink her loyalty, but it just makes Tei more determined to protect the legacy of their father and daughter relationship.

What connects the worlds or rather Kalaya, Turrak and the island, is the core essence of magick and people who have certain abilities. Also the fear of magick and the oppression of those who carry it within them. Above that connection is the search for the Sentinel, a person who can keep Turrak save. The result is a compelling and driven story.

High fantasy is quite a difficult genre to hit the right note on. There has to be an equal balance between relationships, world-building, depth of characters, action and the elements of magick or those that go beyond the parameters of what is considered to be the norm. As soon as a romance takes centre stage and slides into a feel good scenario or raunchy eroticism it tips the scales. When the action or battle scenes consume the entirety of the read it tips the scales. Those scales have to stay balanced, because that is the cement of high fantasy world-building.

Does Rogerson do that? I'm happy to say she does.

It's high fantasy with solid world-building and an interesting set of characters. I look forward to reading the sequel to this series, The Sentinel's Reign.

Buy The Lost Sentinel, book 1 of Silent Sea Chronicles at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Bookbub.

Buy The Sentinel's Reign, book 2 of Silent Sea Chronicles
The Sentinel’s Alliance, book 3 of Silent Sea Chronicles is now available on pre-order.

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