I love my world and my characters, and I hope you do too. Sentinals Awaken was my debut novel, and is the first book in the epic fantasy Sentinal series.

Join my wonderful characters and immerse yourself in my magical world. I hope you stay for the journey as there are plenty more adventures to come.

You can find me on most social media sites or via my website helengarraway.com. You can also sign up to my newsletter, (via my website) and download a free novella set in the world of Remargaren.

Thank you for your interest in my books, and if you've read them, please do leave a review, I would love to know what you think.

“Sentinals Awaken” by Helen Garraway is the first installment in a captivating fantasy series. This is not a book you inhale. No, it’s a story you savor like a fine piece of chocolate. The layers of rich words and intricate world-building are to be explored. To fully appreciate the author’s exquisite writing, along with the magnificent complexity of her characters, you must take your time as you take it in.

This novel is a tapestry of words – beautiful and lush. Main character Jerrol Haven is genuinely likeable from the first chapter. This is not some run-of-the-mill, massively muscled hero. As a King’s Ranger, he’s a skilled protector. As a wanted man, he is a dangerous adversary. And yet, the author does not take Jerrol down a dark path when he is wrongfully cast out. He is honorable, never cruel. He is not a hero who frustrates the reader.

Even though the author presents different portions of the journey from various character points of view, the reader will not get lost. It is clear who has picked up the story and even more importantly – it makes sense when they do! The author does not switch POVs simply because she can. The different POVs provide the reader with what they need to know to move forward in the story.

Garraway exceled at presenting the numerous pieces of the story’s puzzle without overwhelming the reader. We meet: the King’s Rangers; the Lady / Lady’s Guard; the mysterious Sentinals; the terrifying Ascendants (individuals and concept); the Guardians; Councils; Watchers; the Scholars in their Chapterhouse; the chancellor and the prince – PLUS we learn about elements such as The Oath and The Veil, while following the characters through multiple locations in Remargaren. The Arifels, small flying cat-like creatures, are lovable. Truly, I have never read a book with so many moving parts and yet not once felt lost. THAT is part of Garraway’s great skill as a writer. She crafts her story in such a way as to never leave you wondering what just happened. It all makes sense.

The author clearly paints a vision of Remargaren without trending into pages of unnecessary descriptions that can interrupt a story. For example, she provides the reader with enough description of Sentinal uniforms and attributes so we can see how these characters stand out as something special. We never find ourselves mired in descriptive language.

The author developed a bevy of fascinating characters in addition to the protagonist. I was intrigued by scholar Taelia; I am troubled by scholar Torsion. My assumption is I’ll learn more about these characters in the second book of the series. The extraordinary Sentinals are introduced (awakened) slowly to the reader in the beginning. Birlerion becomes our touchstone for this group; more Sentinals join the story as the journey continues. They are fascinating and intimating in a comforting way. This may be Jerrol’s quest, but the foundation is the Sentinals’ story.

For a woman who spent many childhood days reading with her back against the trunk of a tree, this book was like coming home. And while readers often fantasize about seeing their favorite books as movies or a Netflix series, I would love to see Helen Garraway’s epic tale written into wall-sized tapestries hanging in the high halls of great literature.

Amazing read!!

In Sentinals Awaken, Hellen Garraway has created an astounding futuristic fantasy world in the land of Remargaren. This mythical world is set around 4125, and her characters are so well developed they leap out of the page as you read. Her main protagonist Jerrol Haven as a Captain of the King’s Rangers, has taken up a quest to restore the King, who has been usurped by his son. What he doesn’t know, is the power he holds in his hands. Parallel with this there is a 3,000-year-old threat, which stems from when The Lady Leyandriii sundered the Bloodstone, and cast her veil over the land, to protect it.

It is an amazingly well written fantasy book, of duty, honour, justice and love. There is mayhem, battles and many secrets. One of which is that scattered over the land are groups of sentinel trees, and here I loved the idea, that these held a secret army for Jerrol to wake.

It is a unique fantasy, whereby you go on this journey with Jerrol, as he discovers his powers, and that he has been chosen by the Lady as her Captain. You feel and live every emotion, not only Jerrol’s, but all the cast of this beautiful tale.

It is pure imagination and escapism - I loved it!!!
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