Book Review: The Sentinel’s Daughter (Daughters of the American Revolution)

Reviewed by Jadidsa Perez

The Sentinel’s Daughter unabashedly shows the gruesomeness in fighting for a better future.

Coming off the heels of its predecessor, The Sentinel’s Daughter continues where The Prodigal Daughter left off. Edward, the tyrannical Supreme Archon, maintains his grip on power. His wife, Louise, has become aware of Edward’s mistress who has moved into their home and is ready to give birth. Meanwhile Emma, their pregnant daughter and heir, is missing. 

For her part, Emma is still a vibrant member of the revolution against the current governing body, even being part of the mission in the book’s exposition. Her husband Declan has assumed the role of Commander, but lives in disguise amongst the Mennonite community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He and the others are just as dedicated to the liberation of the country and the restoration of women’s rights, even if it means the loss of life. With the introduction of mysterious characters such as Olesya, it’s clear that the tipping point for a coup is getting much closer. 

One of the biggest and most welcome changes from the previous book is the presence of Emma’s voice. Still kind, she feels miles more real and developed this time around; she vocalizes her opinions without hesitation, and we’re better for it. Other female characters, like Louise and Keira, have POV chapters and their own autonomous behavior. Although Emma is often bound to her home due to her pregnancy, Keira’s more adventurous and gruff outlook is a great contrast. Louise is the more reticent of the three, but her memories act as a crucial reminder of how politics have regressed to allow institutions like the Purity Police. 

The Sentinel’s Daughter really shines when it comes to character relationships and their trust in one another. I enjoyed visualizing a found family tree and witnessing the stronger relationships develop even further, such as Emma and Keira’s. The way that the characters have adopted and loved each other, even in the high tension moments, is handled exceptionally well. Despite their abundance of love, there is also an underbelly of rage that seeps out in intriguing ways. Declan, for instance, often has to make difficult choices out of either love or rage, and the depth that it brings him as a character proves fascinating. 

While the plot moves forward in other ways, some aspects of the stories can feel repetitive and do not develop much. For instance, there are quite a few moments where Declan disregards suggestions made by Olesya out of frustration for her vagueness. I had a hard time investing in his emotional turmoil and found myself hoping for other characters to lead. 

Still, The Sentinel’s Daughter is a worthwhile sequel in a fascinating world. I’d gladly recommend it to readers interested in intriguing, original dystopian settings.

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