The Sentinel: The Sundering, Book V by Troy Denning

Release Date: April 1, 2014
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Series: The Sundering series, Book 5

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
As Toril descended into chaos, the dark threat of the Shadovar continued to spread throughout the world and brought the chaos into the heart of Marsember. Kleef Kenric, a member of Marsember's Watch and devotee to Helm, didn't hesitate when the Shadovar showed themselves within his city. He pursued them, subdued them and discovered their threat was much greater than he had anticipated.

With a member of Marsember's nobility in peril, Kleef joined with a band of others who were Chosen, those called upon by various gods in order to save their world. Through numerous struggles, each of the group must complete the dangerous mission given to them without giving in to the tempting rewards of the Shadovar. However, not all of the gods want happiness and light to surround Toril. Some want to plunge it into darkness and strife. Can the world survive if Kleef and his gang achieve their mission? Or will it all be for nothing?

Review:
The publisher had graciously allowed access to this series throughout the books' releases at NetGalley and I was very fortunate to enjoy them. This book was the fifth one of the series (see reviews for Book I, Book II, Book III and Book IV by click the links). More information about the origin of the wars and the sudden emergence of gods who were thought dead was intertwined with the introduction of more Chosen warriors in this story. As with the other books, this one began by revealing a group of main characters before they embarked on their part of the journey to fulfill the overall prophecy.

Because there are as many Chosen as there are gods in Toril, each of the books was able to focus on a few at time without becoming overwhelmed. In this particular novel, Kleef Kenric found himself a Chosen only after he rushed into battle in order to protect two other Chosen. Thus, he and Arietta Seasilver joined the others on a mission that may very well tip the balance of the war in their favor. Within the group there were the usual allegiances between the warriors and yet, jealousy and deceit crept within as well. Just when the four companions believed their group to be well on their way to finishing the task at hand, the secret, hatred-filled plans made an attempt to undo everything.

The book opened with an introduction to the four companions as well as a battle with the Shadovar. From that moment the chase was on and the momentum increased steadily throughout the following chapters. I definitely felt there were moments where the warriors and I could catch our breath, but they were promptly interrupted. The chase continued! Between all of the fighting and escaping, there was a lot of inner reflection among this group of warriors. I'm not sure if it was the result of the particular gods these Chosen followed or simply the way the story unfolded. It added a certain amount of depth to the story, in my opinion, and made it more than a hack-and-slash type of novel.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a great addition to an already entertaining series. I loved the fact each of the books does well on its own, but they bring something special to the series. I think this book took a look at love, duty and honor as many of the characters (and gods) battled their own thoughts about those very subjects. It will be exciting to see how the entire series comes together in the end. If you enjoy a great fantasy series filled with intrigue, double-crossing shadows, and campaigns with surprise endings, then this book is one you should definitely consider!

The Sentinel: The Sundering, Book V by Troy Denning is currently available at all online retailers and many local bookstores. You can purchase a copy of this book in hardcover, paperback, audiobook and Kindle formats. Clicking the link below will take you to the book's Amazon page.
The Sentinel: The Sundering, Book V by Troy Denning