I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Another great book from one of my favorite authors. Highly recommend to friends and family.

This was a decent read. I liked both characters. I hadn’t read this author before (and thus didn’t realize this was the second book in a series) so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It took me a bit to get adjusted to the world the author was building. Overall, an enjoyable read. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

I really like this series and this book is a good addition. The strong characters and the plot line. I read it in an evening. I can't wait for more!

Sentinel (Shadowborn Rebellion #2). By Cyndi Friberg. 2020. Anything-but-Ordinary Books (ARC eBook).

Human Natalie Marino has been drawn to the quiet and serious Sentinel warrior Salvo Xett ever since she came to Sarronti Prime. And it turns out he returns her attentions and wanting to spend some time with Natalie alone he invites her to his home in Ghost City. But as they get to know each other better they also get tied up in the search for a missing child, a kidnapping plot, and murders in the dilapidated city. Salvo is concerned Natalie will be too horrified of the struggles the mutated residents of Ghost City live with, but she only wants to help Salvo and those in need. Heartened by this, Salvo is determined to make her his soulmate and there really is no better time then now. After all, he and his family are in the middle of a rebellion against the Opposition Force.

This is the first book by Friberg I’ve read and I liked the powers and technology Salvo and the rest of the Xett family use to fight in the rebellion. The soulmate mechanics also fit in nicely with the worldbuilding and story but there was a little bit of a learning curve for me. I’m assuming this series is a spinoff. I’m interested in picking up books one and two.

ARC from NetGalley

3.5 stars

This was the second in a series, and I didn't read the first one. I didn't feel lost at all, but I would have benefited from some back story from reading the first book. I don't expect, and I actually don't like it when series books do too much rehashing of previous plot, so I'm fine with this.

This was a sexy sci-fi fantasy mashup. The Saronti are described as elves, they have magic. I am all for these things, but this definitely leans more sci-fi. I don't read a lot of sci-fi, but I used to, and I do enjoy it. I should really read more, but for some reason I am deep in this fantasy trench, and I've had no desire to climb out of it. Eventually, perhaps.

This is a romance, and there is sex, and the sex was decent. If you want sexy sci-fi, look no further.

Unfortunately, this really wasn't a good story to read out of order in the series. I had difficulty following along with the characters. So, I'm sure people who enjoy this series would have thought it much better than I did. It was interesting and well written but lacked the depth I would have enjoyed knowing some of the back story.

I just want to say, first and foremost, that the person on the cover of this one looks like a mix between Chris Hemsworth and Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher series. Okay, moving on.


I love me some paranormal romance - this is no secret. And sometimes I just get in a mood and devour a lot of it at once. This one caught my eye on Netgalley, and I was really happy to be granted an ecopy of it for review. Upon finding out it was the second in a series, I decided to go back and read the first one - even though these are essentially companion novels, there is an over-arching plot that does come through in each book. And I found that I actually preferred this one to book one, Slayer, just as I liked the main characters a touch more.


I will say, though, that this was kind of an average paranormal romance over all - there were elements of certain tropes coming through that weren’t handled particularly well (‘not like other girls’ and ‘overly possessive masculinity’ were the main two), the relationship felt extremely sudden, and parts of the plot were quite jarring - there wasn’t a lot of flow from one part to another.


The big issue that I had with this one was the introduction of physical disfigurement and disability - it was discussed somewhat, but not really very much, and there was an element of disfigurements getting ‘fixed’ that left a bad taste in my mouth. I think there was some attempt to address the experience of having a disfigurement and/or disability, but it was incredibly minimal and somewhat clumsily done.


I did like aspects of the story, though, otherwise I wouldn’t have continued reading. Salvo is a really interesting character - I love the gadgets he has for his espionage work and how they seemed to have their own personalities a little bit - that was really fascinating to read about. The sex scenes were quite good, and (this one is also present in the first book) the idea of the ‘link’ between courting characters being established was really interesting - something I think could have been explored further, actually. The communication between the characters was really good, too (often part of the aforementioned link), and so the book almost completely avoided the classic irritation of a lot of romance novels of miscommunication or just not talking - often leaving the reader yelling at the book ‘JUST TALK ABOUT IT’.


Overall, this was quite an enjoyable read, it just had a few flaws and needed to explore certain things more and also more effectively to bring the rating up for me. I think I might continue on with the series, whenever the next book comes out.


6/10 spy gadgets with mental links.


I received a review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted copy. All thoughts are completely my own

I didn't notice that this was the second book in a series (my mistake). I was intrigued by the premise though.

To me this book came off like a info dump and I noticedIwasskipping a lot of passages. There's a lot of information thrown at you and I found it difficult to keep some things straight. It may had been different had I read the first book.

3.5 stars--SENTINEL is the second instalment in Cyndi Friberg’s adult SHADOWBORN REBELLION erotic, sci-fi fantasy series- a spin off from the author’s Outcast series, which in turn is a spin-off from Battle born, which is a spin-off from the Shadow Assassins series ;). This is Sentinel Sarronti Salvo Xett, and human chef Natalie Marino’s story line. SENTINEL can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion as there is a continuing premise throughout, and each additional story builds upon the one before.

SOME BACKGROUND: The humanoid aliens known as Rodytes needed a home and settled on two uninhabited planets but to their shock a race of elf-like creatures, known as the Sarronti, live underground away from the light. Without any available mates, the male only Rodytes sent teams of Outcasts to kidnap or persuade any and all human females from Earth in an attempt to repopulate and find mates for their struggling males but procreation came at a price including the need for genetically matched DNA, a mutual metamorphosis, and magical intervention. A test for compatibility is filed and there may be as many as five males matched to a single female DNA. Thirty percent of the females returned back to Earth, and the struggling males begin vying for the female’s affections. Outcasts are battle born-their mothers were Bilarrian prisoners forced to breed, with their Rodyte captors, in the hopes of restoring magic to the Rodyte people. To complicate matters, the planet they now inhabit hides a secret deep beneath the planet’s surface, an elven like being known as the Sarronti, who must live underground to avoid exposure to the sun’s damaging rays.


Told from several third person perspectives including Salvo and Natalie, SENTINEL follows several paths including the building relationship between Sentinel Salvo Xett, and human chef Natalie Marino, and the murderous attack in Ghost City. Ghost City is a city of mutants whose exposure to the sun’s dangerous rays has created an above world of creatures never to be accepted by ‘normal’ society (think Total Recall and the mutant inhabitants of Mars). On the hunt for a missing child, Natalie and Salvo will begin an investigation into a murder for hire where ‘weapons of unknown origin’ have wreaked havoc on their intended victims in an effort to confuse the people investigating the crime. A plot to kidnap Sarronti General Malik’s mate Kara, along with imprisonment of a powerful sorcerer by Sarronti rebels finds Salvo and Malik on the offensive when Natalie and Kara are used as bait to determine who is responsible for the prelude to war. What ensues is the quick building romance and relationship between Natalie and Salvo, as our couple work behind the scenes in an effort to prevent further damage.

The relationship between Natalie and Salvo is one of immediate attraction. Salvo has wanted our heroine from the first time they met but Salvo believed that Natalie was attracted to someone else. In an effort to ‘get to know’ our heroine, Salvo invites Natalie to Ghost City wherein our couple will soon discover their mutual attraction leads to a bonding as mates. The $ex scenes are passionate and intimate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

SENTINEL is a story of betrayal and vengeance; power and control; discrimination and rebellion. A ‘Total Recall’ esque world of mutants and orphans rejected by ‘normal’ society, SENTINEL reveals the heart breaking and painful discrimination, and segregation of those Sarronti mutated by radiation. The premise is intriguing and sensitive; the romance is fated and spicy; the characters are colorful, energetic, powerful but tragic. Saying that, the abrupt ending is a little disconcerting-a happily ever after –for now type scenario wherein nothing has yet to be revealed, divulged or clarified. And the cover……speechless!



THE READING CAFÉ: http://www.thereadingcafe.com/sentinel-shadowborn-rebellion-2-by-cyndi-friberg-a-review/

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3472267716


AMAZON. COM: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2IGVKP07XKG06/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B088XS8JV6

an enjoyable read that also moves the series plot along. the world building continues to be interesting and the political intrigue interesting. the central couple of this book make for a relaxing read as neither are over the top or "too much" but balance each other nicely as they openly (if a little hesitant also) to understand each other and the different cultural backgrounds to find a common ground on which to build and grow their future together.

Sexy, sexy hero!! Loved the characters and the story was fun and entertaining to read! Would definitely recommend!!

What a different world this is. So well developed and full of magic. It's steamy and full of intrigue. The ending was great and heartwarming.