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: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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!
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