It took me a few chapters to get interested in the book. As slow the beginning few chapters were the rest seemed to be a at a good pace. There were a lot of capture, rescue, capture, rescue sequences and plot twists like a scify movie, but still interesting concept and imaginative.
As I pictured the changes in the abilities of the lead character it was getting more exciting.

Sci fi isn’t my usual pick but I really enjoyed this! I’m definitely enjoying the recent surge in dystopian fiction. Zara is so strong, I really enjoyed her character arc and I was really rooting for her! The cliffhanger had me gasping - I neeeed book 2!

DNF 40%
I really like the beginning of this book, the plot was interesting and well-written. However i slowly just started to lose interest as the book went on. It got to a point where not much was really going on in my opinion, and the book just dragged, as if only for the purpose of lengthening the novel.
The way the FMC slowly began to find out more about herself and her identity was really admirable and sympathetic, however i think there were times where she really dragged some points out.
Overall, this book was really just not for me, though it could definitely be a great read for someone else who likes dystopian books.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book, unfortunately it just wasn’t for me

I'm glad this book seems to have found its audience, based on the raving reviews, because..... I must have read a different book if this was supposed to be such an "unputdownable" "6-star read."

Poor writing absolutely killed this story, unfortunately. This is one of those that is very obvious it is a debut--and also very obvious that some substantial editing was needed to make it readable. As it was, the number of times I rolled my eyes or had to take a deep breath to force myself to continue reading past the consistently poor writing.... I lost track somewhere in chapter 5 of how many times I wanted to give up on this book.

The exact same conversations, dialogue, and narration--yes, the EXACT same. The amount of times a character was told something and then a few pages later reacted as if it were brand new information. The truly impressive number of times that we were told something was standard/protocol/professional/(un)authorized; that Zara and Trent were unmatched partners; and that she is super into him but can't let herself.... Like, all these things happen almost every page in the first several chapters, which is all I could stomach reading before I had to DNF. Jesus Christ, WE GET IT!!!!

Also, the fact that Zara is supposed to be 24 and Trent is 30 is just.... Yikes. Because of the juvenile writing style, this entire book reads like they're teenagers who are also robots--there is ZERO depth, not much complexity, and very little emotional resonance. I would really encourage the author to study the craft of writing and the basics of character development before publishing the sequel.


***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.***

Broken Sentinel is a dystopian romance, set in a world where the population is split between two groups of people: those who believe modifications are essential to human survival and those who believe modifications to be contaminations. The first half of this book was unputdownable. The world, watching Zara try to figure out what was going on with her, and then also the romance between she and Trent - I was hooked. But the second half felt very repetitive, like one long tactical mission on repeat. Someone they care about/need is taken into enemy territory so time for a rescue mission. But like on repeat 3 different times. I found myself skimming and some of the explanations about the modifications had my eyes glazing over. The ending made for a great cliffhanger! Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Pre thoughts
- Dystopian romance

overall
- Very fast paced and addictive read
- Zara is a very fierce FMC
- The tension between zara and trent is immaculate. Their romance is quite high stakes and full of emotion
- This novel builds with a very clear story line and is easy to follow.
- Great emotional development of both the FMC and the MMC.

Stars 4
spice 2

Tropes
- Slow burn
- Sci-fri romance
- betrayal
- complex relationships
- conflict
- cliffhanger

Thank you Net galley and allica le Flur for the opportunity to review this eARC. all thoughts and opinions are my own xx

DNF
(Possible soft DNF)

I was really excited to read this book because it seemed to offer everything I hoped for that a certain recent dystopian novel (you know the one) failed to deliver. However, despite the other book's questionable writing and its mystery behind “who dunnit?”, it managed to keep me more engaged than this one did.

The main issue for me is the constant repetition throughout the story. For instance, we encounter a scene with dialogue, setting, and situation. Then, a few pages later, we find a different scene featuring either a different or similar scenario with the exact same dialogue. It feels like the author wrote the first scene, decided she didn’t like it, created a second scene that was slightly different but retained the same dialogue, and forgot to edit out the first scene altogether.

I really tried to overlook this, but it happened multiple times.

Another common occurrence in stories is when a character's ability to help someone is introduced, and then a few pages later, another character remarks, “Oh, now you're an expert?” to him. Yeah, babe, we already know he claimed to be one and proved it just a few pages ago.

Or when one character hears some interesting information, and later in another scene, it seems as if that same information is brand new to them.

Additionally, something as minor as one of the MMCs hearing that the FMC plans to train—not only does he hear this, but he even argues with her about it. Then, just a short time later, in a different scene, he sees her and says, “So, I hear you’re going to train.” Yeah, no duh, my guy. You already knew about that two scenes ago!

This kind of thing occurs consistently throughout the book.

I usually don't let writing style affect my reading experience, but I just couldn't ignore this. I found myself wanting to pull my hair out every time these problems arose. I can tolerate it happening up to five times at most before my eye begins to twitch. I even tried to overlook it when it happened a tenth time, despite my teeth beginning to grind. But beyond that— and it did happen more than that— I honestly lost count (and my sanity) and had to put the book down. This makes me sad because I’ve seen fantastic reviews about it, and it genuinely had the potential to be such an interesting read. Unfortunately, those repetitive issues overshadowed the enjoyment I could have had.

I’m hoping to only soft DNF it for now and maybe pick it up again tomorrow after a long-needed break. However, if this repetition continues, I think it will end up being a solid DNF.

If anyone who has read this book can convince me to keep going, I’d appreciate it. But they have to be some really good reasons!

Thank you, Netgalley, Stark Raving Press, and Alicia LeFleur for gifting me this eARC for my honest review.

**Please know that I truly believe this book has potential, and I hope I can push through my initial hesitations and continue reading to discover what happens to our FMC and her story (I have a feeling it might end on a juicy cliffhanger). If I do manage to continue, I will return to provide my honest review.

The perfect dystopian that the world has been waiting for! I know readers will eat this one up! For fans of divergent, shatter me or even the maze runner, this book will definitely win a lot of hearts. I gave it 3.5 stars rounded up!

Broken Sentinel packs a punch with its fiery romance, fractured hero, and bleakly believable world. It stumbles occasionally on pacing and trope familiarity, but its emotional core and sizzling tension make it a compelling entry in the genre. Fans of dystopian sci-fi with a spicy edge won’t want to miss it—especially if you're ready to root for a soldier discovering she may be more than what she was built for.

On my kindle I possibly found a little mistake: LOC 2099 36%. '' They're not territorial,'' I tell her- I believe it's I tell HIM..
I was instantly hooked by the premise and the beginning of the story. But the betrayal reaction from ZARA felt a bit typical Then came the second half. It was all a big long mission. filled with tactical dialogue like “Check the perimeters,” “They have aerial support,” and “I’ve established this and that.” And to be fair, it was well done, but That is where I lost interest. the end is interesting for sure.

In Broken Sentinel, Alicia LeFleur throws you into a high-stakes dystopian world where adaptation is survival, loyalty is a gamble, and nothing is what it seems. From genetically engineered soldiers to adaptations made for survival, this story blends everything I love about Divergent and Shatter Me, but with a fresh, powerful twist all its own.
What made this book stand out for me was that it didn’t go the usual dystopian romance route. I genuinely didn’t know who Zara was going to end up with and I was so relieved it didn’t become a messy love triangle. The tension was just right without taking over the actual story. And I loved that nothing felt predictable.

The worldbuilding is rich and layered. You’ve got the hyper-controlled sterility of Unity, and then the unfiltered chaos of the wasteland. The contrast between the two made every scene feel vivid and immersive. I honestly felt like I was walking beside Zara the whole time, watching her break free and piece herself back together again.

Alicia LeFleur created something really special with this debut. If you’re craving a dystopian that actually brings something new to the table, this is it (trust me!!). Incredible characters, an awesome genetic adaptation system, high-stakes tension, and a cliff hanger that makes you crave the next book . I’ll be rereading while I wait (VERY impatiently) for book two.

FULL review on goodreads

I'd give this 3 and a half stars! This was so different from anything I've ever ready before and I enjoyed it. It took me a while to get into the dystopian world but I liked all the main characters, at times it felt like I was watching an action movie whilst reading this. There was a sprinkle of romance however definitely not romance heavy, the plot twist at the end definitely shocked me.

4✨ thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book!!
I really really enjoyed this book I love sci-fi romance.

It was very much shatter me and watch me series which I love. Our Fmc Elite Sentinel Zara Thorne has dedicated her life to protecting Unity from Splinter contamination. when her body begins developing impossible abilities, she discovers the terrifying truth: she carries the very modifications she was trained to eliminate.
Her partner Trent Vanguard (not a big fan of his) has been keeping a secret from her to do with the changes in her body!! Then we meet Vex (I love him) a fiercely modified Splinter who embodies everything Unity taught her to despise.
The plot at the end wasn’t really surprising for me but I knew something was going to happen 🙈

Overall I highly recommend this book!! 🥰

Fast paced, gritty, and addictive
Zara Thorne is the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for. She’s fierce and flawed and her whole world gets flipped upside down in the best way. That whole “engineered to destroy what she actually is” twist? I ate that up.

Trent had me suspicious from the jump and Vex? Yeah, he totally stole the show. Wild, intense, and dangerously magnetic. The romance brought just enough chaos without taking away from the survival stuff, and the betrayal? Whew. That hit hard.

I really liked the themes about control and identity. Some parts did move quick or felt like info overload, but overall this was a super solid read.

If you’re into messy emotions, betrayal, and rebellion, definitely worth picking this one up.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Stark Raving Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Broken Sentinel is set in a dystopian world split between 2 contrasting approaches to evolution: controlled and organic. There is a great balance of action, romance and the slow unravelling of the high stakes political tensions and I enjoyed the world building and pacing.

I hate to be the only 3 star rating because I REALLY wanted to love this - everything about it on paper was right up my alley. However, the writing fell a bit short for me. There were some sentences that were repeated often, with only slight variations, and sometimes the same conversation were had more than once which threw off the pacing for me.

I really enjoyed the complex relationship between Trent and Zara - how they have to navigate their past and connection to come to a new understanding. I wanted so much more development from these two and would’ve happily done without Vex (who barely contributed enough tension to be a love triangle).

Overall, it was an engaging and enjoyable read with intriguing world building!

First off, thank you NetGalley and Stark Raving Press for sending me an ARC of this. This was my introduction to the author, and I am looking forward to more. This book was so good!! It was very engaging and I felt myself and enthralled in the world that was created in this book. It left me wanting more. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series to see where things go. I feel like this was a new take on a dystopian world, dystopian book that we haven’t seen in a while, so I love to get into that. In this apocalyptic world, humans are genetically enhanced. This is a dystopian, sci-fi romance filled with lots of tension. It’s also a slow-burn, but it is done beautifully! Our main characters are Zara and Trent. Then we also have Vex, which could lead to a love triangle…or something else. After that cliffhanger, I’m definitely going to need the second book to come out ASAP!!

WOOOW! What a fascinating read! It had been a while since a book completely hooked me like this I started reading and just couldn’t stop. I really missed a good dystopian story, and it was such a pleasure to find this one. I can't wait to dive into book two!

The author's writing is also amazing smooth, light, and super enjoyable.
This book so deserves to be published in Brazil! ❤️

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the arc ❤️🌟

Broken Sentinel delivers exactly what it promises: a broken world, a broken man, and a romance that somehow makes it all worth surviving. Alicia LeFleur brings the heat and the heart in this spicy dystopian that had me yelling at the characters one minute and swooning the next.

Pros:
•The dystopian setting feels raw and lived-in. It’s brutal and bleak, but never hopeless and I loved that contrast.
•The main romance? WHEW. It’s messy, slow-burning, and absolutely loaded with tension. There are real stakes here, emotional and physical, and it made every kiss, glare, and whispered word feel earned.
•The spice is on point. Intense without being over-the-top, and it always ties back to the characters’ emotional journeys.
•Loved the heroine strong without being cliché, vulnerable in a way that made her feel real.

Cons:
•There are some worldbuilding elements I wanted more of certain dystopian details felt underdeveloped or rushed past.
•A couple of side characters were a little flat or underused, especially ones who seemed like they’d play a bigger role.
•The pacing dipped just slightly in the middle not enough to pull me out, but I definitely felt it slow before the final act kicked in.

All that said, this was a dark and delicious start to a world I’ll definitely be coming back to. If you like your romance spicy, your heroes tortured, and your stakes high, Broken Sentinel will absolutely scratch that itch.

4.5⭐️
This book took me on a ride I did not see coming.

Set in a vividly built dystopian world recovering from climate collapse, the story explores the divide between two ways of life: the hyper-controlled digital existence of the Sentinels and the raw, unpredictable reality of the outside world. The worldbuilding is immersive, though a little confusing at times — but it’s so different and creative that I couldn’t stop reading.

The romance thread had me by the throat. I was completely invested in Trent, who is the kind of loyal, quietly intense love interest that steals scenes (and hearts). There were moments when the pacing dragged or certain ideas felt repetitive, especially in the middle, but just when I was starting to drift… it snapped back and had me fully locked in again.

The emotional stakes skyrocket toward the end — and I’m still reeling. No spoilers, but I was shocked. I don’t even know how to process what happened. Let’s just say: they did Trent dirty, and I’m not okay 😭

As for Vex… not my favorite. I never really warmed up to him, and the nickname he had for Zara made me cringe every time it came up. It pulled me out of the story more than once and just didn’t land the way it was probably intended to.

If you love high-stakes sci-fi with deep internal conflict, complicated loyalties, and just the right touch of romance — this one is worth picking up. But brace yourself.

Thank you NetGalley and Stark Raving Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook arc. I normally don’t read sci-fi but I could not put this book down. A post apocalyptic world we’re humans are enhanced and she is modified to track down strikers, and it linked to a partner to work side by side with. As their attraction for each other grows she comes in contact with a lost child and then she starts having flash back and her programming starts going haywire, only to find out her entire life has been a lie and even her partner has been lying to her. They go off grid and try to get her to safety before she get taken by the authorities as a traitor. Definitely recommend.
After getting her to safety she unravels her past that has been hidden from her. Her mother made her and sent her away to keep her safe and that he partner was a spy to watch and wait to see when her full potential of powers wakes up. Hearts break and friends double cross in this dystopian novel. Definitely can’t wait for book 2