Let me start off with this: This book is EASILY better than the first one! I definitely loved it more! I'll admit though, the beginning was a little slow for me but when the plot thickens, it's just like, BAM! Action!

I think I should list down the pros and cons.

Cons:
-Slow beginning but the introduction is definitely needed.
-I kinda feel like Gemma is more uptight in Sentient than in Aversion?

Pros:
-Character growth. Gemma's uptightness? It didn't last long.
-MORE SUPERPOWERSSSSS!!!!
-Russ. Definitely Russ.
-And new fun character! I LOVE LAURA!!!

Sentient has everything! It keeps you guessing with suspense, the tension between Russ and Gemma keeps you at the edge of your seat and that small plot twist in the end like, WHAT?! Also, I am giving credit to Kenechi Udogu for not making Sentient into a cliffhanger. Like, if she did, I will DIE. Second book syndrome is a bitch. Cliffhanger or no cliffhanger, I am EXCITED to see what she has for Keeper.

PS: I am LOVING that cover! If I ever see this book on Malaysia's shelf, I will buy it without a second thought :D ( )

Sentient picks up a few weeks after the ending of the first book, Aversion. Gemma and Russ are trying to settle back into their school routine but constantly on the lookout for anyone coming after them. It would be hard to explain their situation without giving away spoilers for the first book since this story is a continuation of the story arc from the first book.

I liked Aversion much better than Sentient. This book felt uneventful for the first half and I found it somewhat boring. I was pushing myself through this part. The action then starts to kick in for the second half of the book and this part held more of my attention. This pattern is actually very similar to Aversion, but unlike this book, the first half of Aversion was more interesting to me since the reader is learning about Averters and Gemma’s relationship/situation with Russ was developing.

One of the biggest things that stood out to me in this book is the same issue that I had with Gemma and Russ’s characterization in Aversion -- Gemma and Russ, though likable, come off as bland and uninteresting. Russ continues to have a flat reaction to everything that happens with the possible exception of when his friend got hurt, which was unintentionally caused by Gemma. Gemma frequently ponders why he is so low-key about everything to the point that I wondered if there was some reason for his lack of reaction that might be part of the reveal at the end. But no, there doesn’t seem to be. I guess Russ is just a laid back kinda guy, but it makes him a somewhat boring and uninteresting character. It probably doesn’t help that the story is told from Gemma’s first person POV, so the reader is constantly in Gemma’s head and cannot experience what might be going through Russ’s head. My favorite character actually turned out to be Laura, a new character introduced in this book. She had a quirkiness that made her stand out against Gemma and Russ’s blandness.

This story is labeled a YA Paranormal Romance. Like many other books I have read recently labeled as “romance”... it is not. It has a romantic element but it is not a romance. There is no HEA/HFN and no ILY. In fact, in this book, I don’t feel the relationship between Gemma and Russ really moved forward that much at all, let alone had any resolution.

Overall, I would say Sentient was slightly more than an OK read for me due to the continued blandness of the main characters and the slowness of the first half of the book. On the upside, the author is British and there were a few Britishisms sprinkled throughout the book, which I enjoyed but occasionally had to look up. I now know what blagging means! I also like that the books don’t end with a major cliffhanger even though it’s a continuing story. Each book so far has had a conflict that is dealt with at the end yet still leaves the major story arc open, as well as new developments, to be continued with the next book without leaving the reader completely hanging.

Heat Level: Sweet – just a few kisses

Word Count: approx. 56,000 (Short Novel)
Kindle locations: 2325 (story text ends at 99%)
Print Length: 155 estimated pages
Ebook includes a Table of Contents
Source: Review Request from Author
Note: my copy was an ARC and final published version may not have the same Kindle locations. ( )