Embargo on Hope

by Justin Doyle

"5 Stars - This action-packed adventure will fully immerse the reader... any fan of science fiction or action-adventure would enjoy this book." -  Reader's Favorite
"...a gifted story that is exceptionally compelling. " -  D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
" 5 Stars  - ...  something both sci-fi and fantasy fans will enjoy. " -  Jim's Sci-Fi Blog
Even gods have secrets...

On planet Vastire, worth is set by the sins of one's ancestors. Good families rise to the elite and the wicked fall into poverty. Unfortunately for sixteen-year-old Darynn Mark, his father incited a revolution. Now, Darynn scrounges his way through life in the slums. When Vastire is surrounded by an embargo, it gets even harder to survive. 

That all changes when an alien ship slips through the embargo, seeking Darynn with an finish the revolution and the embargo ends. He might have a chance thanks to mysterious magic powers, and his two clairvoyant crush Fyra and soldierly alien Kaylaa. 

Cutthroat killers, mystical beasts, Vampires, power-hungry priests and lords, and self-serving spies stand in their way. If the three of them can crack his father's secret, maybe they can end the embargo and save the poor. If not, another poor orphan will be added to the growing piles of dead.

368 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2021

About the author

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 graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, and an M.S. in Systems Engineering. He now works for Barrios Technology as a project engineer for the next NASA space station, the Gateway, after previously working on commercial avionics, International Space Station (ISS) flight and manifest planning, and ISS research planning. He lives in the Houston area with his wife, daughters, and various small mammals.

Check out his website starmarked.mailchimpsites.com for more information on him, bonus material in the Star Marked universe, and upcoming releases. Sign up for his mailing list to receive news and free short stories!

Reviews

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

Review copy was received from Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

3.5 hearts

Embargo on Hope is the first book in a new series Star Marked by debut author Justin Doyle.  It is a tale of learning the secrets of the past, your destiny in the present, and finding a way to live with the losses in your life.  Darynn will need to follow in his father's footsteps if he is going to break the embargo on his planet and destroy the caste system used there.

Darynn is the PoV we see through the entire book.  His father has been dead for years and he and his best friend have tried to help their people by stealing food and medicine for the lowest caste.  When his best friend dies on a supply run, it leaves him a feeling lost and guilty but Kaylaa (a fighter from another planet) comes and gives him the opportunity to play a larger role and take up the cause his father died for.

There is a love interest for Darynn in this also.  Frya, is his dead best friend's sister.  He has had a crush on her forever but totally has no game when it comes to girls and has no idea how to court her in the middle of everything else that is happening.  This part of the story sometimes felt a bit awkward and forced, but Frya is a kind person with some foreseeing magic.  She ends up on Darynn's mad adventure when he leaves planet to train and makes a good partner for him.  She helps to keep him grounded and remains compassionate throughout all of their adventures.

Kaylaa teaches Darynn about the magic he holds in himself and the costs of it.  Her magic has cost her a lot, so much she seems emotionless.  Darynn will have some pretty big shoes to fill if he is going to be the new heart of the rebellion.  There are a few really good plot twists and I enjoyed the slow tease out of what really happened to his father and the battle near the end of the book.

Embargo on Hope is a good blend of magic systems, space travel and war.  The beginning is a little slow for the set up but the pay off at the end was good.  Justin Doyle has a good debut novel here and I think he is going to grow a lot as an author over the course of this series.

[Geetha Krishnan]

I read this as part of the SPSFC in which I'm part of Team Tar Vol On. The story held my attention from the start, and I was invested in the main character as well. The story was more Scifantasy than pure Sci Fi and the epigraphs at the end of each chapter added depth to the worldbuilding. The characters are well rounded and to me, that was the most important thing. This would appeal to fans of soft sci fi, space opera and epic fantasy.

[Aaron M. Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embargo On Hope is a beautiful sci-fantasy adventure, packed with so much to love.

4.5⭐s

I was immediately hooked with this story by the end of chapter one. This first chapter alone is action-packed, full of lore, delivers the motivation of the main characters, and has an unexpected ending. From here, we go on an epic quest that takes us through an immersive world.

If you’re a fan of the “chosen one” trope at all, I think you’ll enjoy Doyle’s unique spin on the concept. It was something I haven’t read before but thoroughly enjoyed being a fan of more sci-fi-based novels. Another core theme of this story is the dystopian nature of how people are split into different castes. This caste system of course plays into the story and our main character’s upbringing and motivation.

Embargo also includes a great cast of characters that all feel fleshed out and unique. Our main character, Darynn Mark, is told through a first-person POV which I can always appreciate. Following a single character from page one to the end is something I tend to enjoy more compared to multi-character POV-driven stories. However, the main character that we follow needs to be compelling and be someone we enjoy reading for the entire story. Darynn, I am happy to report was someone who was able to keep my interest and be someone who I wanted to see succeed. He is quickly thrust into a dangerous journey that will hopefully provide answers to his past and potentially end an embargo that is keeping his people in an oppressed state.

Chapter one introduces us to some interesting creatures like necromancers that fill the stars in this universe. Aliens, vampires, minotaurs, and more can be found in the following chapters. The story also has many unique settings that take us from the slums of a lesser caste system to elegant manors, dark and cold prisons, and then religious temples that hold dark secrets.

I also wanted to highlight that Doyle’s prose is very poetic at times and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

All in all, Embargo on Hope contains a complex universe, engaging characters, a compelling quest, and a lot more to love. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for something that feels like Brandon Sanderson’s Skyward mixed with Star Wars. I say Star Wars because it’s not necessarily a hard sci-fi book where technology or ideas are the focus. It’s more like an epic fantasy tale with bits of technology to serve a fantastical story.

Ready to see where the story takes in book 2, Betrayal of Hope.

Another side note, the audiobook version of this story, narrated by Christopher Dukes, delivered a fantastic performance.

[Justin]

Now an SPFBOX and SPSFC3 entrant!

Reduced price on ebook ($1.99 or less!)

The sequel, Assassination of Hope, is available now! Assassination of Hope
The trilogy capper, Betrayal of Hope, releases this month! Betrayal of Hope



An "exceptionally compelling" story:
• Science fiction/fantasy adventure
• Fast-paced
• A new, deep world
• Political and social intrigue

Short Excerpt:
Even in the middle of the day, the streets of Hargonla were lifeless. It muffled the cries of the penniless vagrants; it snatched children from their families; it hid the ruthless brigands in the shadows of its bosom. Families huddled between the crumbling walls and crawled under the sunken roofs, anything to hide from wind and rain, anything to hide from the fury of night’s fiends.
On the ground level sat boxes and crates and counters covered in old foods, rotting vegetables, and brown fruits. Some of the more skilled Olan-Har sold crafts or hand-woven clothing. There was one merchant I knew who sold handcrafted weapons nearby.
I reached the central intersection, where the main roads of Hargonla that run north to south and east to west meet. I stared listlessly in each direction but found none of them to be welcoming. Nowhere for a cursed bastard like me.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/embargo-on...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Embargo-Hope-J...

[Timothy Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. Justin Doyle creates three empathetic and well-rounded characters in Darynn Mark, his love interest Fryra, and Kaylaa. The three characters possess unique abilities and qualities that drive their decisions throughout the story and perfectly complement the other. While at times the "love interest" aspect of the story seemed a little forced, it didn't take away from the overarching plot: a reluctant hero unaware of the abilities he possesses is set on a journey to save his people and discover truth. The three characters, in some way, are on the same quest, and their relationships beautiful develop throughout. Plus, the action-packed battles and obstacles these characters overcome, are ripe with high stakes that personally challenge the characters, particularly Darynn Mark.

[Smiley_Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justin Doyle’s novel Embargo on Hope combines aspects of science fiction and fantasy with young adult romance and dystopian fiction. The novel takes place on the planet Vastire — a planet that is subject to an embargo which limits the supplies available to the planet’s population. The initial chapters of the novel emphasize the effect that this embargo has had, specifically on the Olan-Har, the lowest caste rank on the planet. The protagonist Darryn travels between the various districts of the plant, providing the novel with a unique and rich setting.

The novel revolves around a trio of well-rounded but very different characters: Darynn, Fyra, and Kaylaa. Darynn is courageous but arrogant. Because of the decisions his father made in the past, he and his mother were banished to the Olan-Har caste and, consequently, to the slums of Vastire. Throughout the novel, Darynn slowly learns more about his father’s choices and grapples with his father’s legacy. Fyra is less confident than Darynn but empathetic. Throughout the novel, she comes to terms with her clairvoyant powers and finds strength in her devout faith in Vastire’s deities, the Iveleen. In stark contrast to Fyra is Kaylaa, who is apathetic and militant. Her stoicism allows her to plan and lead the trio effectively. Despite the severe differences between these characters, they work together well and add to the complexity of the novel and its dialogue.

Doyle effectively builds a complex universe for his novel without overwhelming the reader with information. The narrative itself provides the exposition necessary to follow the plot which the chapter epigraphs provide more detailed information about the Planetary Alliance and its history. While the novel concludes in a satisfactory manner, it also leaves questions for the reader which will hopefully be answered in future books in the series. Altogether Doyle’s first novel is fantastic, and I look forward to reading the rest of the Star Marked series.

[Jim Arrowood · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

Recently, I received a review request from author Justin Doyle for his first major work, Embargo on Hope. It is the opening story of a trilogy in his new Star Marked series.

Embargo is a young adult, sci-fi/fantasy story set in the future on the planet Vastire.

I am not a fantasy fan for the most part, so if I read a book in that genre, it must be good, really good. I would say that this one qualifies as one I enjoyed. It moves at a comfortable pace and isn't bogged down with a lot of technical language. The reader will pretty well understand everything. Some of the character names will take a little getting used to, but I also found them to be clever. The story is well written with a good amount of world building I particularly enjoyed. I thought the ending was pretty amazing, and of course, it is open-ended, but it is also a story complete in itself.

A governing body called the Planetary Alliance has placed the planet Vastire under an embargo. No goods, services, or people may leave or go to the surface of the planet for any reason. In order to enforce the sanction, other members of the Alliance are required to provide ships to blockade the planet.

On the planet, conditions are in a constant state of deterioration. A religious sect has imposed a caste system on Vastire. The lowest of the castes is the Olan-Har. Subsequently, they are the ones who suffer the most. The people of this cast have no access to food, water, or medicine. They are despised by all other castes and have fallen to a survivalist state of existence. They are constantly in conflict with themselves, and people live in bombed-out buildings and are forced to forage or beg to survive.

Darynn Mark is a member of the Olan-Har and is not happy with what he sees happening on his planet. When he meets up with Kaylaa Reesae, he is compelled to bring down the imposed caste system. In order to do that, he, Kaylaa and his best friend's sister, Fyra, go on a quest to get answers. Unfortunately, the way to where they need to go is fraught with people and beasts who make things difficult for the trio.

The story is told from the first-person point of view of Darynn. He is a tough, streetwise kid who can handle himself in a fight. He doesn't hesitate to kill, but as his character grows, he shows signs of remorse. His motivation through most of the book is to learn facts about his father, a great "Shard" warrior in his time (Shard is the planet's police force. They investigate and apprehend offenders). Darynn is uneducated, but he is bright and able to think for himself. When he is joined by Kaylaa, he realizes his mission in life is the same as his father's was - to break the caste system and achieve equality for all the people of Vastire, but especially for the people of his caste, the Olan-Har.

Kaylaa, a native of another planet in the Planetary Alliance, has been assigned to help Darynn through his quest of discovery. She is a skilled warrior packing a matched pair of plasma rapiers. She has a tendency not to show emotion but believes in the cause. Kaylaa is smart, she plans how the trio (including her, Darynn and Fyra) can best cope with difficult situations.

Fyra is a compassionate young woman and is also Darynn's love interest. She is devout in Vastire's dominant religious beliefs. She is wholly opposed to violence resulting in death but can understand how it is sometimes necessary for survival. Her brother was Darynn's best friend until he was accidentally killed while foraging for medicine to cure some ailment she had at the beginning of the story. If she has feelings beyond friendship and camaraderie for Darynn, she doesn't let it show, much to his dismay. Fyra is not well trained in combat, but she is smart, having completed some college education.

I have two favorite points in Embargo. The unfortunate thing is, if I talk about them, they will make up major story spoilers. I'll just say that one point involves a character's discovery of the past, and, the other, a battle resulting in achieving a goal.

Aside from that, a plot point I picked up on involved the three principal characters. To me, it seemed like Kaylaa and Fyra were like the two different sides of Darynn. Kaylaa being the logical, impassionate planner, while Fyra was the awakening compassionate side. While they were absolutely fine characters y themselves, I couldn't help thinking the same things I thought when Spock and McCoy reflected the different sides of Kirk in Original Series Star Trek. But unlike Trek, the conflicting sides analogy is far more subtle in Embargo, but it was there for me, nonetheless.

The dominant theme of Embargo is a young man comes of age by learning his life's purpose. Darynn strives to figure out his purpose in life is to improve his world by fighting injustice in the best way he can. His journey is a difficult one, and he feels quite alone in his quest, but he isn't. It will take a major victory, making him a rallying point to motivate others to action.

While not a fan of fantasy, I found much of this story in that genre. I mentioned this to the author who explained he is mixing two genres, Sci-Fi and Fantasy. He told me to imagine "Middle Earth on Tatooine." Well, after thinking about that, it makes sense, and this is definitely a synthesis of two different types of stories. The thing is, I enjoyed this story and was fascinated by the diversity of characters. The story is pretty intense in the beginning and end with a stretch of many varied trials and challenges to overcome in the middle. I recommend this story as something both sci-fi and fantasy fans will enjoy. It is loaded with satisfying moments for both types of fans.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I quite liked this book. I got it as an advanced reader copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I originally got this book without knowing much about it but I was pleasantly surprised. We get to follow Darynn who used to be elite but was cast down into the slums after his dad started a revolution. Life is hard on Vastire after an embargo was placed on the world and even harder in the slums.
But when Darynn gets a visitor from another planet

I won’t say much more as I do t want to run. The book for anyone but if you like space opera, aliens, sci-fi, vampires, or any offshoot genres you’re likely going to enjoy this book. It has a fun plot with lots of twists and turns to keep you interested. Looking forward to the next book in the series!

[The Reading Ruru (Kerry) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer - read as a judge for SPFBOX. Opinion and ratings are my own and not necessarily the thoughts of other team members. Rating is not team score either.


I completed this book but I didn't really read it, instead I found myself skipping paragraphs and only reading certain scenes. It was an easy enough read to grasp what was happening and I enjoyed the mix of Sci-fi & Fantasy. My problem with this book was how ‘convenient” things were; off to jail the MC discovers his magic, chased by Militia, a handy tree with a large enough crack to hide, remembered by the MC.
Also the supposedly really sick sister manages to go on a gruelling trek.
If you like a mix of SFF and (I say tentatively) a Star Wars lite mixed with Indian Jones then I think you'd enjoy this

[Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justin Doyle is an amazing author who brings you his debut novel, filled with one twisty loop de loo!
16-year-old Darynn is trying to live life on the hardened slum filled streets of Vastire. Once upon a time, life was not so hard for him. But due to his father trying and not succeeding to start a revolution, Darynn is now the one paying the price. All Darynn wants to do is not get killed, (like his friend did) and be able to survive.
When an alien ship offers him a chance to do just that.
Together Darryn and his friends, Fyra and Kaylaa must work together to stop the revolution. Also, Darryn must find out why; he was singled out by the aliens and offered that deal.
Doyle holds no punches while delivering this Sci/Fi whirlwind. His worldbuilding is impressive and the world he creates with vampires, mythological monsters, and aliens are remarkable.

This books just leaves you wanting more….

Did I say, “DEBUT NOVEL?”

5 STARS DOYLE!!!

Thank you Justin Doyle/for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. My opinion is of my own volition.

[Daniel Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

You know what this book reminds me of? Those action blockbusters that are called popcorn entertainment.

Those blockbusters are entertaining, I like to watch those,I feel good after watching them but they're rarely anything remarkable

I felt the same way while reading the book. This book could be one of those popcorn entertainment films. It had an good story, great action scenes. It kept you reading all through the book but once I've read it,it was nothing remarkable.

At times,the dialogue felt too exposition like, you don't need characters explaining how the tools of that world works if the character already knows about that tool.

This was a good book,if you love sci fi, you would like this,grab your popcorn (or snack of your choice) and read it.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

How fun to be transported into a whole new world! Even for the strongest of souls Vastire's slum areas would be terrifying to navigate. For most who land there it is through the sins of their fore fathers. Generations pay the price with no way out. I felt so immersed in the different areas we passed through. Darynn is the one left paying for his father, Zilphon Mark's rebellion. Now with his 2 companions, Darynn is on a journey to possibly complete the revolution. The trio come across all kinds of mythical beasts from minotaur, vampire's, to just bad people as they find their way. I so enjoyed this book and will be reading the next one!

[Elpis G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Embargo on Hope follows Darynn who is trying to survive in the slums of Vastire. His father tried to lead a revolution to improve life but failed. After his friend is killed, An alien ship offers Darynn a chance to finish his father’s revolution.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I thought it had a really interesting premise but I had a hard time getting into it. I found the world to be very interesting and immersive but at times it felt overwhelming. The information provided before chapters helped at least. The plot was also hard to follow at times and it took a long time before things started to get going but once it got going, it was a faster and more enjoyable read. The characters did develop throughout the book although they didn’t feel as developed as the word in which they were. Overall I found it to be a fairly enjoyable read even though I had some issues with it.

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

[Bethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Its good mix of sci fi and fantasy and also based in a dystopia . It was interesting the rules of the society in between the chapters It hooked you in from the beginning. My favourite character in the book was Kaylaa.
the main character has a believable conflict with the role they play in the story which starts at the beginning with the death of his friend and culminates with him joining the rebellion to destroy the embargo .there is also a romance in the book.

[Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

EMBARGO ON HOPE is endearing Science Fiction with a flavor of Fantasy, with characters you can't help but like and admire (the good guys, anyway).


A planet under embargo, a viciously enforced caste system. One young man with no prospects but possessed of a generous heart. An alien proposition. Will it be sufficient to change his life and the future of his planet.


First in the new Star Marked Series.

[Noura Navali · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was hard getting into this book at the beginning. I had to push through to reach the part where everything made sense to me. Starting this book felt like grabbing me and throwing me into the frying pan, with no introduction or anything. The world has so much to say, and this book just throws so much stuff at the reader that it's overwhelming. I've read the first half twice before progressing further.

But as the story settles, it's entertaining. I loved the magic system. I wish it was given more focus at the beginning of the story. Being bonded to certain elements is just amazing, as are the consequences. It has such a cool balance.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book! The world the author creates is so rich and full of cool backstories. I didn’t see the ending coming at all and it was so satisfying how it all resolved. Highly recommend!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story quickly hooks you in and then keeps on going. There are plenty of plot twists to keep you guessing, nice fore shadowing of some of those twists , and some great fight scenes. While I had a hard time with some of the geography and descriptors the main city itself I feel I had a good understanding.
I really liked how the three main characters meshed and played off of each other. It was easy to see growth and change. The romance is sweet without being mushy and so far has not interfered with the trio's bonding. This story is a bit science fiction, a bit fantasy , a bit space opera. It has potential to be a great series and I am looking forward to the next book.
I received this book free from BookSirens and am happy to leave a reveiw.

[Dylan West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rich sci-fi and fantasy details went into a blender. Out came this book.

Prepare to get sucked into a futuristic world of neat tech, copious combat, and a variety of setting types. The wide arsenal of weapons gives it a strong military sci-fi vibe while the magic and mythological creatures paint it with fantasy. There's lots of action, romance (or attempted romance), and I enjoyed the excerts from various manuals at the start of each chapter. Religious and cultural elements blend into the story quite heavily to round out the world, which I always appreciate. There are times when I feel that the new names and terms are thrown at me in quick succession, so I had to go back to reread those sections--there is a lot of detail to learn here. And I appreciate that there's only one POV character to follow. Books with epic worldbuilding like this tend to go overboard with POV characters, so only seeing things through Darynn's eyes avoided a lot of that complication.

Though there are a LOT of world building details to keep up with, and many of them build upon each other. I may have missed some of those details while listening to the book on text-to-speech. I'd have to read it again, this time with my eyes, to catch more. And I lost sight of how some middle scenes related to the overall goal of advancing a revolution.

As for writing style, the prose is clean and even beautiful in some places. Never overly flowery or wordy. and this author isn't afraid of short sentences, which made for good readability.

Some lines I liked:
-"But Hargonla had reached out with its iron tentacles and dragged her back."
-"Randomness is in the fabric of the universe, but continued good fortune is only made by the gods,"
-"No amount of luck could result in you killing me."
-"I pray that your soul forces you in a different direction than your feet."

Sci-fi and fantasy lovers should come explore this rich world for its immersive experience.

[Tamara Belko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embargo on Hope follows sixteen year old Darynn who lives in the shadow of his infamous revolution inciting father, Zilphon Mark. Darynn faces poverty, an unjust caste system and a life-threatening embargo brought on as a result of his father’s actions.
I really enjoyed this book. I love quest stories in which the characters are not only overcoming external obstacles but must also overcome internal struggles. Embargo on Hope delivers with both! There are monsters. Lots of monsters! Necromancers, minotaurs, and vampires and fast paced battles with laser-like swords which reminded me of Star Wars.
Unlikely, friendships are forged and tested. The main character, Darynn, struggles to find his place and purpose in the world. There is burgeoning love! And there is a Secret that Darynn must uncover in order to save his people and understand his own identity.
While there are some intense battle scenes and some more complex themes revolving around social justice and religion, I do believe this book would still be appropriate and well enjoyed by precocious younger readers 11+ and certainly teens.

[Matt Bitonti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book "Embargo on Hope" was wildly enjoyable. The author did a great job building the world and keeping the characters' motivations consistent. Without spoilers, the plot focuses on the main character and his quest to end the trade embargo around his planet. This requires a revolution and avoiding the authorities long enough to discover the secrets of the past. Throughout this adventure, there's a ton of violence, with almost every scene culminating in a battle. The weapons are futuristic and the situations dire, but there's also magic and lore like a fantasy adventure. This book has a little bit of everything, there's even a believable love interest in the mix. The author is talented. Whatever he's trying to pull off, he manages it. I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did, and I will likely buy book two to find out what happens next. Very well done.

[Lori Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as a review copy from Booksirens, this is an honest review. Embargo on Hope is a gorgeous, visual journey that feels you are a piece of the story as we get to know the world of Vastire, from its slums to the glistening towers. Darynn is trying to make it as forces strangle life of the residents; but Darynn didn't expect to become Amy kind of hero to challenge the embargo. But with wicked powerful technology and unflappable allies; the fight is on bring the Vastire the freedom it deserves. Highly recommended.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a thoroughly enjoyable book with lots of great action, wonderful world building and engaging characters. I enjoyed it immensely. It’s the first of a trilogy but wraps up nicely in its own right while still leaving the reader eager to know more. It put me in mind of books I’ve read by Adrian Tchaikovsky and China Meiville so if you enjoy those authors you will probably enjoy this. The main character, Darynn, was engaging and easy to connect with. I’m looking forward to seeing where his adventures lead. There are still so many questions he needs to answer.

[Ken Jin Chee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

Can't wait for the next book! Sci Fi adventure story with some interesting twists and turns. I highly recommend reading it!

[Themed Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received an ARC from BookSirens in exchange for my honest review]

I am in awe of how good this was for a debut novel, this book had a bit of everything from fantasy to space opera and a lot of sci-fi in between. I can honestly say that after reading this I am going to continue the Star Marked series, I need to know what happens next.

Even though this book is over 300 pages it is a very fast-paced read, I felt like I couldn't put it down with everything happening. The story has so many twists and turns that you cannot even guess what will come next. It was an intense roller coaster ride of emotions that even at the end you feel raw and breathless. I am so thankful that I stumbled upon this book and have the opportunity to read the next one so soon so I can continue this excellent adventure with Darynn, Freya, and Kaylaa.

I will say that at the beginning I was unsure how I would like this book as I found it a little slow and wordy, however, as soon as you get past the set up the book continues at a good pace and continues to build until the intense conclusion at the end. The world was very interesting and immersive, I really liked how Justin Doyle added in monsters and mythological creatures without it seeming odd. When I think of space books, vampires are not something I would expect to see but it actually works well with this book.

The characters at first seemed a little standoffish but as the book progressed so did the development. By the end of the book, I felt like the characters each had their own unique personalities and backstories.

All in all, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, the only reason it isn't getting a 5 is due to the slow start. I will definitely be continuing onto the next book "Assassination of Hope".

[Julia Sarene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for SPFBO, this is only my personal opinion, group verdict might differ widely! 🔥

Embargo of Hope by Justin Doyle is a blend of sci-fi and fantasy, that felt skewered towards sci-fi to me.

I was intrigued by the world and easily drawn in, but sadly the farther I read, the less engaged I was. I can't really exactly point out what the problem was, mostly I didn't care for the characters enough to be fully invested in their fate I think.

It's a pretty epic scale, so you need to pay attention to follow, but it's not a hard read.

[Manda Simas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was so enjoyable, and the narration was top notch. I really fell in love with the characters and their journey. Some twists were jaw dropping. Full review will come out first on the www.SFFIsiders.com