Book Review Monday: Embassy

       Guys! It's actually February already! Isn't that crazy? I know everyone says this, but it really seems like January completely blurred by for me.
       How are you doing? Have you read lots of books during the first month of the year? Do you have any favorites so far?
      Just the other day I finished reading Embassy by S. Alex Martin. This book was not only great, but I am proud to say that I am friends with the author. I look forward to even more good things coming from S. Alex Martin.

Here's a little about the book from Amazon:
"When Arman Lance fell in love with Ladia Purnell, he made it his life's goal to find her after she left his planet. But amid tragedy and his obsession of Ladia, Arman struggles to fight the mental isolation he has built around him. He sees joining the galaxy's Embassy Program as only one step on his journey to Ladia, nothing more. Now he explores the Embassy, flies a Molter, and competes in the fast-action Hologis tournament. At last, Arman boards the expedition that will take him across the stars to Ladia, but the journey might change him in ways he would have never dared to imagine."

My Thoughts:

The Idea:

Especially compared to the genre of books I typically read, I thought Embassy had a very original idea. It is about Arman Lance, a guy who has built a mental barrier around himself ever since he fell in love with a girl a few summers ago. He joins the galaxy's Embassy program to get to the girl who lives many planets away. This book is about his mental journey to live in the moment rather than letting an obsession take over his life and make him miserable. There are sci-fi elements that make the story interesting, but not overpowering, as the plot is very character-driven. 

The Characters:

This story is about character growth. In the beginning, Arman is not extremely likable. He's a grown to be a but of a sourpuss. But that's the point of the story. It's about him learning to be a happier, better person. 

A character I particularly liked was Glacia. She went to Secondary school with Arman, and then joins him in the Embassy program. I really admired her, and her ability to bring out the best in Arman. 

There were many other characters, all of whom were well developed and played a part in the story. 

The Plot:

The plot was good. I could say it was slightly predictable, but I don't think there is anything wrong with that. I enjoyed it. The first part of the book took place on Arman's planet, Undil. The middle is on a spacecraft in outer space, and the last part is on Belvun, where he planned to reunite with his love, Ladia. 

I was invested in the characters and I am excited to read the next books in the series. 

The Setting:

Embassy had a very fresh setting. I don't typically read novels in a futuristic setting, but I thought this was very, very well done. The descriptions were spot-on. Even though it was such a unique setting, I understood everything. 

I particularly enjoyed the Hologis tournament in Embassy. Hologis is a very creative game that is like a mixture of dodge ball and laser tag in a maze arena. It was really cool! I kind of wish it was a real thing. 

Overall:

Embassy is a great novel by young author S. Alex Martin! I look forward to books in the future by him. 

About the Author: 

S. Alex Martin grew up fascinated with astronomy and reading Harry Potter. He worships the Oxford Comma, argues that Coke is better than Pepsi (sadly, Coke is not the fountain soda sponsor at his college), and collects coffee mugs wherever he goes. He draws 30-foot long mazes, is a street hypnotist, and stands by the unwavering fact that the 10th is the best, but he can't wait to see how Capaldi fits in with the crowd. Alex is 21 years old.

Find S. Alex Martin and Embassy Online:

Personal Blog

Bookish Blog

Amazon

Goodreads

ABC 27 Interview