Betrayal of Hope (Star Marked Series Book 3) By Justin Doyle - A Great Wrap-Up To An Amazing Series!

Betrayal of Hope (Star Marked Series Book 3) by Justin Doyle

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Note: This book will be released on July 21, 2023.

Choices. We all have to make them on a daily basis. Some are pretty easy, and some are more difficult. But to make choices to actually go in the complete opposite direction from what one believes in are the most difficult of all.

In this, the third book of Justin Doyle's Star Marked series, choices are a major theme.

Justin is growing as an author and his first books show this with incredible world building and character growth. With those two elements, he has penned a Sci-Fi/Fantasy mashup that is not to be missed. I enjoy the fast pace and how he shows his story that unfolds as a movie might with each page turn. His books can be read as standalone volumes, but at the same time, there are threads that tie all three books together to create some great reading.

Here is the blurb from the back of the book...Darynn, Fyra, and Kaylaa have solved the gods' mysteries. But how can they unveil the secrets to save the starving Olan-Har without unleashing chaos upon Vastire?

A war they are handily losing with long-time adversary Erodia delays their decision. With few options left, Commander Aseus turns to Darynn to attempt a daring mission to infiltrate Erodia, just like his grandfather did 80 years ago.

The trio and a small team agrees to the treacherous mission across the dangerous, wild continent filled with powerful enemies. But he’s conflicted. Not only does magical power rampage within, but he starts to wonder who he’s fighting for: royalty and the clergy, or the people? That question will drive him to make impossible choices.

If he chooses correctly, he can end the war and save the Olan-Har, but at a great cost. If he doesn’t, the Erodians will rule Vastire and the secrets of the gods will be lost.

SECRETS SPARK WARS

Darynn, Fyra, and Kaylaa have been through a lot together. Their teamwork has solved various issues as time has passed, and they have grown as characters.Darynn, the consummate hot head, has learned to think things through before he acts. He possesses a devastating power that will cause utter destruction if he unleashes it. It has happened before with mixed results. While he still gets angry, and his weapon gets very near the surface, he has learned to back away and reign in his impulses. This is thanks mostly to Fyra.

Fyra is the logical thinker of the trio. But she is learning that not everything can be approached from a logical point of view. Sometimes passion must guide one when making decisions.

Then there's Kaylaa, a great warrior who has also learned to govern her passions and pick her battles wisely.

While the entire story, as well as the three-book saga, has been adventure upon adventure, the real adventure for me, as a reader, has been to watch how these three have developed as people as they mature.

Along with character development, my favorite point of plot is Justin's world building. Right from the start, in the first book, we find an oppressed people, and Darynn takes it upon himself to help his people, the Olan-Har, to achieve a status to allow them to grow and prosper. In this world, there are constant obsticles to achieving the goal. There is always some despotic foe, or an ambitious indiviual, or even the lay of the land itself trying to foil our heroes. Darynn is winning battles, but it is uncertain he will win the war.

As time marches on, Darynn finds himself having to make an extremely difficult choice. Is he willing to betray his core beliefs and join the enemy to win the final battle? His mission is clear, but his path to victory is not. The story winds through obstacles at a breakneck pace, with brief places to allow the reader to step back before the next conflict.

It is an old cliché, but my takeaway from Betrayal of Hope is, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." 

If I elaborate too much, this would be a major spoiler of a turning point in the tale. In my first year of teaching, I received a piece of sage advice from my principal. He said "fight the battles you can win." The decision Darynn makes is my favorite section of this story and you're just going to have to read the book to see the complex process the character goes through in this plot-twist. It is brilliantly written and emotionally charged!

Betrayal of Hope is a fun read with an amazing mixture of Science Fiction and Fantasy that is seamless. The mixture of the two genres is so smooth that fans of either will appreciate what the author has done.

The ending is very satisfying and the journey to get there is engaging. 

Highest recommendations for Betrayal of Hope, as well as Embargo of Hope, and Assassination of Hope!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Justin was born in Galveston, TX and raised in the Houston area. In middle school, he fell in love with two life-long pursuits: space and writing. He knew he wanted to work at NASA and write science fiction / fantasy on the side, and lo and behold, that’s exactly what he ended up doing.

He now works for the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, who manages the International Space Station National Laboratory. He lives in the Houston area with his wife, daughter, and various small mammals.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

Grave Cold By Shannon Knight - This Review Includes An Interview With The Author! - Great Book!

Grave Cold by Shannon Knight

I received a copy of Grave Cold for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

After reading Shannon's second remarkable book, Insiders, she contacted me and told me about Grave Cold. She said it might not be something fitting my usual reading material. She was right only because Grave Cold is not a space opera; it is set right here on a future Earth where cities are no longer accessible by just anyone. There are some strange goings on in the District of Portland, the setting for this tale. The book might fit into Dystopian Sci-Fi and Urban Fantasy classifications, but no matter how one describes it, it is a fine story that moves along at a fast pace with characters one will care about. The world building is colorful and more than a little scary.

Nyle is a Raven. He travels the world when he is called by the dead to release their… I'm not sure what to call it. Consciousness? Life force? Soul? In any case, the energy that exists in a person's body is trapped until someone like Nyle comes along to release them and allow them to pass into the next plane of existence. This is not a simple job, and it comes with perils. The raven can be killed if he/she tries to do too much.

Caitlin, known to her friends as Cait, is a young woman who struggles as a hairdresser to make a living. The only stable thing in her life is her cat. She thinks herself to be genetically altered, as many are in the District, but thanks to Nyle, she learns she is a necromancer. She can speak with the dead.

Together, they learn of a group of nefarious individuals who have learned how to use the life force of the dead to create energy used to power systems in the District. They make it their mission to stop this abuse to allow the dead to rest as they should.

Nyle and Cait are an interesting pair. Their relationship is a unique one that, as the tale unfolds, becomes borderline romantic. But before that, Nyle only wants Cait to be safe and does his best to make sure she is. Nyle's problem is, anytime he gets near the dead, he is inundated with spirits who want to be released, and they deplete his energy in doing so. Fortunately, Cait is on hand most of the time to make sure Nyle doesn't do too much and puts himself in jeopardy, at least most of the time.

Cait is a young woman living as a, more or less, free spirit. She has deep feelings about things, and will do whatever it takes to make sure the right things are done for those who have passed on.

Both are interesting characters with a lot of depth revealed as the story moves along. We get to know them both well enough to want them to be safe and successful. Cait is especially endearing because of her chaotic lifestyle. I enjoyed watching her try just to pay her rent, and being late nearly everywhere she went. Descriptions of the hairstyles she prefers were among the lighter moments in the story, and I found them enjoyable, although they wouldn't be for me.

Along with the characters, my favorite point of plot was the world building. The District of Portland is surrounded by a wall, making it an island-like place. Apparently, all large cities are similarly separated. Getting into a city is difficult if one is an outsider. Governance is handled by corporations and many live in luxury, while others, such as Cait, live by barely subsisting on some go-nowhere job paying just enough to live, but not enough to afford even the simplest pleasures of life.

Sometimes, Districts come into conflict with each other, and the results are disastrous.

My takeaway from Grave Cold is when someone is forced to live in loneliness, one must learn to get by as best they can. But one should never set aside their sense of what is right and wrong.

Both the characters in this story are lonely people because of their roles in their lives. They cannot share who they are without compromising what they have to do. This theme is explored throughout the book.

The theme of loneliness is so present in this story, the reader can almost taste it.

I admire Shannon's writing style and wanted to get her thoughts about her motivations and about her as a person. The following is an interview I conducted with her. I love the depth of her answers and hope you do also, and I also hope you will read her books...

Me: What inspired you to become an author?

Shannon: Oh, this feels like an impossible question because I’ve always wanted to be an author. Stories inspired me. The world inspired me. I realize now how unique my childhood was compared to so many people’s today because not only did I grow up before the Internet, but I grew up in the deep backwoods of the Ozarks. There weren’t other kids to play with besides my siblings. There were three TV channels available with scarcely any shows for kids. The libraries didn’t have many sci-fi or fantasy books, either. Still, I read a lot. I played in the woods. I also spent an enormous amount of time with my own imagination. 

Me: What kind of books, movies, and/or television shows played a part in your decision to write?

Shannon: When I was a child, my dad subscribed to a science fiction and fantasy book club. My dad, siblings, and I all loved reading those books. I read anything on those home library shelves many times. My big brother Seamus made a deal with me that he would read my first book, which I’d handwritten in journals, if I first read The Dragonbone Chair. Not only was that a chonker divided into two mammoth hardcover copies (with gorgeous Michael Whelan covers), but the book was the last in a series. I was in grade school, but I happily read those books. Seamus read my “book” and told me to keep writing, which was about the nicest thing he could have said. 

I also remember picking up Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce at some point. It was deeply amazing to me because I was accustomed to reading books aimed at an adult audience, and I adored understanding every word of a story aimed at young girls. The feeling was so huge. That’s when I decided my dream was for someone someday to read one of my books and feel the way I felt then.

For movies, the original Star Wars trilogy was a big influence. I also loved Dark Crystal. I rewatched them many times. My brothers and I were latchkey kids, and after they got in trouble too many times with how they chose to spend their time, we were instructed to turn on a movie when we got home from school, and an adult would be there before it ended. This resulted in the endless back-to-back viewing of the Star Wars trilogy.

Me: What book is on your nightstand right now?

Shannon: I am reading Renia by Karl Forshaw.

Me: Do issues people face today affect what you write?

Shannon: Absolutely. I think the heart of sci-fi and fantasy is the issues we face today. When you pick up great classics in the genre, you see a timestamp of issues the author found important.

Me: Pantser or Plotter?

Shannon: I plot where I’m starting and where I’m ending, and I pants the rest. I make sure I know my characters first.

Me: Have you had any formal training in writing?

Shannon: I have a B.A. in English. I’ve also taught English, including writing. Teaching children to write is an incredible way to learn more about writing because you need to be able to explain why something does or does not work.

Me: How did you deal with the COVID pandemic and did it help your writing?

Shannon: I got COVID in the spring of 2020, and I did not get better. Instead, I experienced a series of changing and worsening symptoms. After about two and a half years mostly bedbound, one of the tests resulted in a treatment that allowed me to sit up throughout the day. During the worst periods, I could not even think. I existed in a liminal space that felt separate even from my own mind. My ability to self-reflect came and went. During moments of clarity, I vowed to myself to self-publish the three books I had previously completed that my agent hadn’t sold. Since I’d gone through such a life-changing experience, I had a new perspective as I revised my books. This new perspective is incredibly important. However, I also have new disabilities that make daily life more difficult.

Me: What are you doing when you're not writing?

Shannon: COVID has limited my activities and productive hours. I teach English online a few hours per week. I have been busy with other aspects of self-publishing. For instance, I just got a new cover completed for Insiders, which is very exciting, and I’ve been updating distributors with new files and sending out for the proofs of the hard copies. Meanwhile, another artist is painting a new cover for my fantasy novel, Wish Givers. I’m also connecting with book reviewers, like you. In the evenings, I like to read. When I can’t read, I watch Korean dramas. My kitty hangs out with me most of the day. 

Me: If you could travel to any time, future or past, what period would you go and why?

Shannon: I would go to a time in the future when there was a treatment for Long COVID. When you lose your health in such an enormous way, the situation causes a whole new awareness. I lost parts of myself that I didn’t know it was possible to lose. I would gladly go to a time where I could get those back. Going back in time, prior to my infection, doesn’t seem like a good solution because earlier adoption of a respirator might not be sufficient, and I might simply experience the same horror twice, but the second time, I would not be able to go through those years with the naive aspiration that tomorrow I would be well. Sci-fi tells me the future has great medical solutions. I also think we writers can help create that future because the first step is to imagine the scientific solution.

Me: I've read two of your books. Are there any characters in Insiders or Grave Cold that are you, or people you know?

Shannon: No. Unless they are all me, which is a weird thought, but…

Me: What takeaways would you like readers of Insiders to take with them after they finish reading?

Shannon: We are all in this together. That’s my biggest, single theme for Insiders. We all have our unique ways that we can contribute, and together we can make amazing things happen. Also, we should help and protect each other as best we can, especially our most vulnerable. Sachi’s role as a teenage girl is one where I wanted readers to see that she should be guided and protected, but I also wanted readers to see her as powerful and heroic, even as she’s figuring things out. Our society tends to look down on teenage girls, trivializing their interests and abilities, but teenage girls are amazing.

I also hope people can feel connected to the characters as they read.

Me: Same question for Grave Cold?

Shannon: Life has enormous power. Death is partially why life is so powerful. The fact that life is limited–that it can end at any moment–creates an urgency that highlights our every moment. A big part of the beauty of life is our interactions with others. A single person can make a big difference.

I explored a lot of other ideas, too. Death is not the end of someone. Villains feel justified in taking anything they can from those less powerful than them, while heroes will take a stand to protect those less powerful than them. ME is a terrifying illness that many people are unaware of. No one should be ostracized for their differences.

I also hope people feel entertained while reading an adventure story.

(Note: ME refers to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome(ME/CFS))

Me: Have you read a book that has changed your life?

Shannon: All books change my life. Some more than others. Some in different ways than others. Books are incredible. They let us see other people’s perspectives. They teach us new things. They give us hope and laughter. They connect us to other times and places. Books are marvelous.

Me: Is there a book, other than your own, you think everyone should read?

Shannon: My bookish opinion is that not every book is for every person. Some books are best at certain points in a person’s life. It’s also good to read outside of your comfort zone. As a rule, though, I want to know more about what someone wants to read before offering a book suggestion.

Me: Is there a book you wish you would want to read again for the first time?

Shannon: COVID does wild things to your brain and memory. I had lots of memory problems. There were times I couldn’t speak or understand language. I had memory gaps, too. Unsurprisingly, I couldn’t read for a long time, but I’d try anyway. I held the latest Murderbot volume in my hands while I was sick. Just to hold it. Some days I’d read a sentence or a paragraph over and over. Murderbot is a wonderful character to hang out with. After I could genuinely read again, I read the book. I’d laugh, which hurt a lot. But I guess I wasn’t really up to it, because later I read it again, as if for the first time–I had no memory of it at all. When I really (really!) had improved, I read the entire Murderbot series again, including the book that wasn’t staying in my memory. Third time’s a charm! The series is mostly novellas. It all felt brand new, like I’d never read any of it before. After that, I took another favorite series, the Mercy Thompson books by Patricia Briggs, and read the entire series. Rereading feels a bit like a visit with my past self, because I remember my initial impressions along with my new ones. It felt like a good way to remember and remind myself of who I am. 

Me: What was your favorite book as a child?

Shannon: Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce. Alanna was so cool. I wanted to be a knight, too. (And now I am!)

Me: What is your favorite part of the writing process? What is your least favorite part of the writing process?

Shannon: My favorite part is writing. My least favorite part is marketing. Too bad Doyle (from Insiders) can’t do it for me.

Me: What is a question you wish someone would ask you, but never has? What is your answer?

Shannon: This is a clever question. I’m not longing for any particular questions, but I’ll take this opportunity to tell you how wonderful my cat is. Wow. He lets me put my face in his fluffy belly fur, and it is not a trap. I think he’s having a Totoro experience every time he sleeps on my torso. He’s excellent company. He stayed right by my side for those super sick years, and he would purr so happily. He has a kitty bed on the desk so he doesn’t lounge on the keyboard, and he can hang out while I write. We’re buds. 

Me: What are you currently working on? Tell us what you can, if anything.

Shannon: Mostly, I’m working on the non-writing side of self-pub, but I’m marinating multiple story ideas. There are so many stories to tell.

Me: What are the best ways to learn more about you and your work? Social media? Blog? Website? Newsletter?

Shannon: I’m still figuring things out, but I’ve got a website started, and I’m on some social media. 

My website: https://shannonknight2.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_Shannon_Knight
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyshannonknight/ 

Grave Cold is a marvelous story about life and death, and perhaps afterlife. It features great and well-developed characters set in a future where energy can be derived from strange places, including the departed. It is set at a time when people can be genetically manipulated, and there is extreme prejudice that doesn't allow for people's growth. I enjoyed this story and the sci-fi included in the story is accessible to any reader, the fantasy aspects are not over-the-top, and there are some lighter moments to allow the reader time to catch their breath between some well-paced action. I look forward to Shannon's future work with eagerness.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Shannon Knight lives in the Pacific Northwest with her faithful feline, the best cat on this planet, and a spectacular view of the galaxy and beyond. In the spring of 2020, Shannon fell ill with the novel COVID-19 virus and became primarily bedbound for about 2.25 years.

Sentinel By Seb Woodland - A Sc-Fi Action/Adventure Story With A Heart

Sentinel by Seb Woodland

The first thing that attracted me to reading Sentinel was the book's description. It promised to be a sci-fi adventure and space opera that would be new and refreshing. The second thing that caught me was the cartoonish cover promising a diverse cast of characters. I was not disappointed on either score.

Sentinel is a well-told tale within a tale. The characters are dynamic and fun while the plot and how it unfolds in the pages is engaging and will keep a reader turning pages. I was hooked from the beginning and could not help but read on to see just what would happen next.

I relished this story and hope there will be more to come from this author.

Skyther Prince Osax is being interviewed for information surrounding a plot to reduce planet Earth to cinders. A mysterious investigator wants the facts of the diabolical act and the perpetrator, Duhrnan, all of which Osax is only too happy to share, however, he will only divulge what he knows by telling the entire tale from his own point of view. The impatient investigator has no choice but to listen while Osax spins his epic, and detailed, account.

Osax meets others along his way, gaining support from a genetically enhanced being bred for war. He also meets a commander from Earth Forces, and a scientist with unclear motives. Together, this quartet more or less bonds as they face adventures that include extreme danger and threats of destruction.

Duhrnan declares through the galaxy's communication network his intention to destroy the Earth. He has the means to do it and is known to have destroyed other planets for his own nefarious reasons.

First, Osax and his friends must learn to get along with each other before they can unite to stop Duhrnan.

It is a struggle on numerous levels as they face their own interpersonal difficulties and obstacles thrown in their way.

The story is told from the point of view of Osax, a Prince of the skythers. He is next in line to become the ruler of his people after the Queen, his mother, is gone. Osax is traveling to get away from pressure placed upon him, and to learn more about the universe. He is a curious person who loves to learn and meet new people. He is patient and tries to never rush into situations. When he meets Kay, a genetically enhanced human warrior, he learns about her and finds her to have low self-esteem. He likes her and offers encouragement and helps Kay grow to me more than just a weapon.

This is my favorite plot point in the book. There is plenty to give enjoyment in this tale, but I enjoyed the Osax/Kay relationship above all. Kay does not feel she is worthy of anyone's friendship. She makes mistakes and is very hard on herself, however she experiences a lot of growth as the relationship between her and Osax unfolds. 

My takeaway from Sentinel is it is hard to make good friends, and even harder to keep them. Kay has issues with self-confidence and esteem. What Osax does to help her is not to point out her mistakes - she already knows when she messes up. She picks herself apart and tears herself down throughout the story. Osax, instead, doesn't focus on her mistakes, he teaches her to learn from them and move forward. The interactions between Osax and Kay were some of the best in the book and added a sense of authenticity to the entire work.

Along with Osax's patient treatment of his teammate, Sentinel is a great Sci-Fi, space opera, and adventure tale that is full of epic battles, well-paced action, humor, and compassion. I hope that Seb Woodland continues to write. He has a fine sense of humanity and can spin an amazing story. 

Seb Woodland is a writer, musician, artist, video game developer, and the author of Sentinel. Born in Victoria BC, on the west coast of Turtle Island, he grew up inventing stories and roleplaying games with his siblings. Inspired by authors such as Kenneth Oppel and Michelle Paver, Seb dreamed of becoming an author since childhood. He achieved that dream in 2021 when he published his first book, Sentinel. His creativity goes far beyond just writing, and he always has at least a couple of art projects on the go.