Content levels
Trigger warnings
Hero archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Synopsis
From the author of the amazon best selling Empire Rising series comes a new epic saga. For over two millennia, humanity has lived under the unyielding peace of the Human Republic. Born from the ashes of a devastating revolt, the Republic vowed to prevent the nuclear holocaust of another interstellar war at any cost. Its inner core worlds—thirteen powerful colonies—maintain an iron grip over the thousands of outlying planets humanity has settled. But peace has come at a price. Two and a half thousand years of centralized rule, greed, and corruption have all but enslaved those who live outside the Republic’s inner core. For the citizens of these rim worlds, freedom is a distant dream—a relic buried in humanity’s past. Yet what has been buried cannot be hidden forever. For those who strive for these long lost ideals, they will soon discover what so many before them have learnt the hard way – freedom always comes at a cost. For Second Lieutenant Caleb Hawthorne, the cost will be higher than he can imagine. When a secessionist movement arises, Caleb must choose between the navy he has dedicated his life to and his loyalty to family and homeworld. As the tyranny of his masters becomes clearer, there is only one choice. But can he learn the ways of war fast enough to make a difference? And can he throw off the ties that bind him to the Republic so easily? Freedom, family, and love are powerful rallying cries, but can they inspire a people to accomplish what no one has done in nearly three thousand years— to forge a nation of their own? Embers of Rebellion is the first novel in the Secession Wars series by D. J. Holmes that will tell the sweeping story of the Rim's quest for freedom from the Republic and all the war, loss, and devestation that will arise from a peoples' striving to be free.
Tags
Is Embers of Rebellion appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 13 and up.
Military sci-fi with themes of rebellion and war; expect combat violence and political intrigue as protagonist chooses between duty and conscience, though graphic content is likely limited.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include death, war, and political violence (see the full list above).
Publisher ages reflect reading level; our rating reflects content maturity — they can differ.
Who'll love this
Teens will engage with the moral dilemmas of a young officer caught between his navy career and fighting for his homeworld's freedom.