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A review by smiley_kylie
Embargo on Hope (Star Marked #1) by Justin Doyle
5.0
I loved it! The first in the Star Marked trilogy, Embargo on Hope is a book that contains a well-balanced mix of fantasy, sci-fi, and space opera. Readers will meet aliens, vampires, and minotaurs and encounter powerful magic, high-tech spaceships, and a dynamic array of allies and villains.
The novel is written in first person narrative, from the point of view of the story's daring and impulsive protagonist, Darynn Mark. Following the death of his best friend, Darynn is thrust into a life of danger, uncertainty, and responsibility. The reader enters the story after Darynn has already made a name for himself amongst the people of the Olan-Har caste by raiding supply trains to provide for the planet’s lowest, most disregarded caste. Enter Kaylaa, a powerful and stoic young woman from another planet who compels Darynn to question the merit of the caste system and the gods who put it in place. Darynn, Kaylaa, and Darynn’s clairvoyant love interest, Fyra, embark on a treacherous journey to find answers to the past that few have dared to question.
The characters in the story are diverse but work well together. While Kaylaa is dutiful and emotionless, Fyra is spiritual and caring. The two help balance Darynn as he finds his way throughout the book. Darynn has seemingly unrequited feelings for Fyra, but the romantic dynamic enhances, rather than hinders the plot.
Though the unique names of places and characters seem a little overwhelming at first, the author does a good job subtly reminding the reader the significance of a location or who a secondary character is if they are mentioned later in the story. Especially helpful were the short excerpts between chapters, which serve as a clever tool for detailed worldbuilding without interrupting the story with lengthy descriptions.
This is an exciting story for fans of both sci-fi and fantasy. Readers will enjoy following Darynn on his journey to discovery as he wrestles with questions from the past, decisions for the future, and his evolving moral compass. The book has a satisfying conclusion, but there remain some open-ended questions I look forward to finding answers to in the second book of the series!
The novel is written in first person narrative, from the point of view of the story's daring and impulsive protagonist, Darynn Mark. Following the death of his best friend, Darynn is thrust into a life of danger, uncertainty, and responsibility. The reader enters the story after Darynn has already made a name for himself amongst the people of the Olan-Har caste by raiding supply trains to provide for the planet’s lowest, most disregarded caste. Enter Kaylaa, a powerful and stoic young woman from another planet who compels Darynn to question the merit of the caste system and the gods who put it in place. Darynn, Kaylaa, and Darynn’s clairvoyant love interest, Fyra, embark on a treacherous journey to find answers to the past that few have dared to question.
The characters in the story are diverse but work well together. While Kaylaa is dutiful and emotionless, Fyra is spiritual and caring. The two help balance Darynn as he finds his way throughout the book. Darynn has seemingly unrequited feelings for Fyra, but the romantic dynamic enhances, rather than hinders the plot.
Though the unique names of places and characters seem a little overwhelming at first, the author does a good job subtly reminding the reader the significance of a location or who a secondary character is if they are mentioned later in the story. Especially helpful were the short excerpts between chapters, which serve as a clever tool for detailed worldbuilding without interrupting the story with lengthy descriptions.
This is an exciting story for fans of both sci-fi and fantasy. Readers will enjoy following Darynn on his journey to discovery as he wrestles with questions from the past, decisions for the future, and his evolving moral compass. The book has a satisfying conclusion, but there remain some open-ended questions I look forward to finding answers to in the second book of the series!