Covenant Series (Book 5)

Sentinel

Rating

5 stars

Rating 4 the series

4+ stars!

Date Read

7/1/16 - 11/1/16

Age Group

16+

General Thoughts

Going into my goodreads account I was surprised to find my "average rating" above four out of five stars. I shouldn't have been: when I've chosen a book to read, the rating is hardly ever below 3 because I already know going in the general idea I have checked reviews to make sure that the writing isn't too bad. If I do start reading something and I don't like it, either because it's slit-your-wrists boring or plain old not interesting, I simply don't finish it.

Still, I don't usually do book series. Except if they are really good. And that is the case for the Covenant series. FBB syndrome? Not in an J.L Armentrout series!

Since this was the last book, I'll just do a recap of the main characters, especially considering that they have matured a lot in the span of the last books.

Aiden

Let me start off saying that Aiden is perfect. Not metaphorically. Quite literally.

In Half-blood, when we first meet him, we know he's gorgeous. Muscled and fit, with silver eyes that turn gunmetal grey, depending on his feelings, he's the skilled Sentinel - all strong and lethal- that will capture your heart and hold it to the last page...

And he's intelligent, studious and funny, knows the Greek Mythology by heart and can fluently speak ancient Greek.

Responsible, more so that most adults, he takes care of his little brother, practically raises him, fights Daimons for living and still takes on training the pretty, wild half-blood that comes into the Covenant facing an uncertain future.

He doesn't discriminate between Pures and Half-bloods, doesn't consider them lesser and treats Alex as his equal from day one, effectively making himself stand out in her eyes.

In Pure we learn just how selfless he can really be, giving her up because of what them being together would mean for her life: she could go into servitude... or be killed.

In Deity he proves just how far he'd go to protect her, even if it means going up against the Gods...

...And in Apollyon that he'd never give up on her, would even follow her to the ends of the world (or Underworld).

In Sentinel it's quite clear that he's the ideal boyfriend, as supportive as he is loving, and even though he does at times get jealous and overprotective (which is just as adorable as all his other traits), he tries to reign it in and always apologises if he raises his voice.

And he doesn't, not once, make Alex feel uncomfortable with her battle scars, which are plenty after the showdown with Ares.

This guy doesn't exist!

Alex

Alex no longer resembles the brattish, childish, brave and arrogant sixteen year old girl we met four books ago, sharp mouthed and unable to control her anger, fighting for her place in the world.

She has had to grow up - especially in the last two books - face down Daimons and Furies and Gods, and, although she is still the same witty, wild and impudent girl, she has learned to prioritize and stay strong in the face of danger, maturing and becoming able to control her emotions, learning when it's best to hold her tongue and when to speak her mind.

The fight with Ares in the Apollyon broke her spirit and left her barely standing but, despite thinking that she'd never be the same, she managed to bounce back and keep her head high for the sake of the world, eventually learning to move on, with a little help from the Pure she's been crushing on since she was a little girl and now has become the center of her world.

Seth

Uh, Seth... See, this is the hard part because Seth, Seth is selfish, and aggressive and arrogant. He has parent issues -which is quiet common in half bloods - and anger management problems and hardly ever tries to control his impulses. He's bad news, that's obvious from the first time he walks into the room at the Covenant on the Deity island, confident in his awesomeness and loving everty bit of the attention he gets, as half bloods and pures alike have their eyes glued on him like he's some god.

And in some way, for them, he is. The Apollyon, the strongest of all half-bloods, the Keeper of Balance and with enough power to take on a Pure and win.

Then you move onto the second book and actually get attached to his confident stride, his easy laugh and self-centered smile. He is there for Alex after the Daimon attack, even if it's actually for wholly selfish reasons, like due to the Apollyon cord and the bond giving him a headache when he's not around her. And you start liking him, even though it's obvious he doesn't stand a chance, not with Aiden in the picture.

Then you finish Deity and you start doubting your character-judging skills. Because your high expectations are now met with a power-hungry, akasha-crazed God-killer-to-be who soughts out Lucian's parental affection as if the shallow, egotistical maniac in white robes is someone you want to be proud of you...

Here comes Apollyon. Seth is now beyond selfish and reason is obviously escaping him. Like, his feet are no longer on solid ground, he's just floating through possibilities, blinded by power. And he's using Alex, misleading her and confusing her, letting her get lost in herself after her Awakening and enjoying it, even though he KNOWS that it's her worst fear coming to life.

And then you read Sentinel. And Seth... it's just impossible to be angry at him. He deserved - deserves - so much more than what he got. His life was never easy, and power did blind him, but he was just a muppet in the larger scheme of things, probably unaware that he was being used in the first place. And he does try to make up for it, tries to do right by Alex, and, despite all the innocent lives lost because of him maybe there is a chance for him after all...

Deacon

Arguably everyone's favourite character, Aiden's little brother never loses his smile. He had a difficult childhood, losing his parents that young, and he did flirt with addiction in his early teenage years but, especially after the first book, he manages to move on. He never cares what people think, never looking down on Alex for being a half-blood or condemning her for her relationship with his brother, a pure.

Always smiling, cracking jokes at the most difficult times, easing the tension right out of his friends and dealing with the war admirably well for someone who has enerything to lose, Deacon is the light, warm smile that no one can help but love.

Caleb

If Aiden is the ideal boyfriend then Caleb is the ideal best friend, and all the praise applies. Fun and easy-going, protective and self sacrificing. He's the kind of guy you wish you had by your side when you found yourself falling for a Pure, to remind you that it is actually bad for your health, against the laws your society lives by. The kind of guy that still stays back to comfort you when said Pure flips you off, without a single "told you so". The kind of guy that manages to support you even when there are worlds between you, seperating you. The kind of guy that fights his way back to you when things are looking grim and you've lost yourself after Awakening as the Apollyon. The kind of guy that risks everything to help you, putting his eternal existence on the line in order save the world. The kind of guy that lets you cry your soul out on his shoulder when everything you love has been lost, soothing you and even managing to make you smile.

I mean, where does J.L Armentrout find these quys?

All in All

Except for the author's writing being plain awesome and the characters simply loveable, and despite Alex occassionally being less that likeable in her rude unrefined manners (it's ok, Aiden's unbelievably high emotional intelligence makes up for her ability to motivate people, or lack thereof), what I liked a lot in the Covenant series was that it was the perfect number of pages... Five books were just right for a long series that allows you understand the characters and watch them mature, fall in love with their worlds and their stories, yearn for more after each chapter and still not suffer seperation anxiety after it's all over. In fact, I was quite glad it was over and the world was finally on the road to recovery.

PS Songs: Twist in my Sobriety by Tanita Tikaram.

XOXO

Aggie Pearson