Resonance

Recovery #2

by S. Alex Martin

Life looks different now. Arman Lance saw firsthand the remnants of Ellaciss City. He learned how his father had led Undilaen crews into the firestorms to save countless lives. Now he understands that without meaningful action by Belvun’s political powers, the deterioration will render the planet uninhabitable. He and his crew leave Belvun behind and journey onward to Daliona, where the Faustocine formula promised to stabilize Belvun’s deterioration will be synthesized. On this ocean planet, Arman finds a life where imagination guides scientific exploration, traveling the world is a daily commute, and self-discovery is forged through adventure.

Genres: Science Fiction Fantasy, Science Fiction

582 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 2015

About the author

Writing science-fiction novels has guided my life ever since 2004 at the age of 11. I like to call the first three books I wrote my “video game” books, where I was writing to have fun and exercise my creativity, as kids and early teens do. But my current series, Recovery (2013-present), is the story I have to tell, and will likely end up being the only series I write from start to finish.

Over the years, my writing led me down a path of science blogging and educational video making, and eventually evolved into Sidewalk Science Center, which I started while living in Savannah, Georgia in 2018.

I have a background in physics, mathematics, general relativity, cosmology, and some grad study in orbital mechanics and space law and policy. Since creating Sidewalk Science Center, I held a number of side jobs, including being a cashier at Savannah, Georgia’s original River Street Sweets, an educator at the Savannah Children’s Museum, a private math tutor for older elementary and middle school students, a STEM educator, a museum educator & planetarium director, a middle and high school science teacher, and a general substitute teacher.

In May 2024, I quit teaching to shift into running Sidewalk Science Center full-time. With my heavier engagement in sidewalk astronomy, I leaned heavier into the Hiking Astronomer starting in March 2025, giving me more freedom to travel and share sidewalk astronomy around the country.

I’ve presented at both national and international education conferences, and was hired to travel up to Batesville, Indiana to provide telescopes for their Batesville Blackout Bash during the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. I’m also leading a cruise in the Mediterranean Sea to witness the 2026 total solar eclipse off the coast of Barcelona. In June 2025, I conducted six keynotes for the i-STEM professional development conferences in Idaho exploring how to develop informal education programs outside of schools that teachers can create on their own.

While I lived in Florida for several years, it was never home. I need my mountains, my snow, my cold and moody weather. I’m currently based out of Sedona, Arizona, road tripping the US for conferences, hosting author and book meet-and-greets, and bringing sidewalk astronomy to more communities across the western US.

Reviews

[Levi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just can not get enough of this love! All this travel and enjoying life (and loathing some of it…) keeps all readers hooked onto this book. And the fact that he switched his desires just makes me want to read the next book! I definitely recommend this to readers who love romance and science fiction.

You are a great author, Alex!

-Levi

[Saffyre Falkenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to receive an ARC of Resonance from the author. Seriously. This book has been my constant companion over the last several weeks and has been a much-needed reprieve from the mountains of school reading overtaking my desk.

I really love the way Arman came into his own in this book. Though this transition started in Embassy, I feel he really began to explore and form his own identity in Resonance. His inner world is rich and complex and emotional and so, so, so relatable. Arman’s open struggles with fear, identity, jealousy, and purpose are such a part of the human experience that he really feels like a real person to me.

Basically, the characters and their development are my favorite part of Resonance. I love the relationship in this book. After the slow build in Embassy, the payoff in Resonance was so worth it. The wedding scene (not spoilers; I promise!) and the birthday celebration are particular favorite moments of mine. The new side characters on the team Arman hires are also quite delightful; Rand is my personal favorite of the bunch.

The world-building. Absolutely phenomenal. The reader really gets to see a much larger snapshot of this universe and all the planets, people, technology, and animals in it. The level of detail poured into Daliona made the story so rich. Plus, the recreational activities introduced in Resonance almost rival Hologis. Also! You can explore Daliona for yourself!

And, last but certainly not least, the ending. My word. I’m still reeling. Those last couple of chapters had me on the edge of my seat and I had to will myself to read slower so that I wouldn’t miss anything. I have a funny story about reading the ending if y’all are interested. I’ve read a lot of books with a lot of cliffhangers, but this was one of the most extreme cliffhangers I have ever encountered and it is so wonderful and frustrating all at once.

Honestly? I liked it all. The plot, characters, world-building, pacing…I have no complaints. Resonance was really a slam-dunk for me.

[Victoria Gaytán · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twice as good as Embassy! Resonance is jam packed with adventure, thrill, beauty, mystery and more. From gravity runs, races, spaceships, flying to things you’ve only ever imagined in your wildest dream, this book will not only make you feel like you’re in another world, but a different planet as well. I highly recommend it for ages twelve and above for lovers of imagination, dreams, the future and the unknown. The end will leave you on the edge of your seat! It has every adrenaline junkies wildest dreams mixed with those of a small child who loves to imagine what the future and space might hold. Having no fear is key. If you want something exciting, death defying and lined with insanity, this is the book for you!

[Alexis G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theme:
Confidence
No fear
Hope
Self-Discovery

Characters:
I feel more connected with the characters and their personalities than I did from the first novel. Their personalities are more vibrant, authentic, and alive.

Glacia Haverns --> Glacia is a beast! I will always love Glacia and her cool spunky personality.

Arman Lance --> Arman is a new man now. *applause* He has more confidence than he did in the first novel and more personality. I like him as a main character and I can't wait to continue following his journey in the rest of the installments.

Kile --> I like Kile. Even though he was an introvert and rather read books than spend time with other people, that was okay.

Rand ---> Rand is such a different guy. He speaks his mind and he doesn't care what anyone thinks. I admire that about him but sometimes he was plain ol' rude! He was the daredevil in the group who didn't let anything get in his way of a little fun.

I found myself nervous, excited, and sad right alongside these characters. The personalities of these characters are perfect. Each character is different and S. Alex Martin shows how no one is perfect. Each of these characters had a flaw and I loved that. Even their character development was a slow progress the same way it is for us humans. We go through experiences in our lifetime that change us and we may have to face something that brings us right back where we started in our comfort zone. That's exactly how these characters developed in Resonance.

Style/Setting:
I love the way the novel opened up with the crew heading back to Undil and the experience on the transports for landing. It was very futuristic and I could actually picture the scene(s) as if I was watching a movie. I even had that experience where the background music was playing in my head (lol).

This story was creativity and unique. Most of the story took place on Daliona (another planet where humans live) and I love it there. I would totally visit if I could! Even the pod transportation on Daliona seemed awesome (although it did make a few people nausea.)

There were a few slow moments; like when they explained the problems the other planets were having or the long descriptions of a scene, but other than that, everything else kept my interest. Oh, but oh my gosh! The ending will shock you and live you thinking all kind of things! It was the perfect cliffhanger!

I'm not sure how Martin came up with these ideas/worlds, but it's different and alluring. I haven't read anything like this series before. Resonance was better than Embassy (book one). The Recovery Series has just gotten even better and I can't wait to see where the next installments will lead to.

Lesson Learned?
Fear does not exist, therefore live with no fear. Don't let fear stop you from stepping out of your comfort zone.

**RECOMMENDED

Rating:
Book Cover: 0.1 out of 0.1
Character Development/Plot: 2.8 out of 3
Imagery: 1.0 out of 1.0
Interest: 0.8 out of 1.0
Total: 4.7 stars

Book your vacation to Daliona now by checking out Resonance’s website for more information and cool photos: http://www.experiencedaliona.com/

[Adrianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even better than Embassy, Resonance is a perfect book to pick up if you are looking for a vacation – a vacation from your average sci-fi book as well as an adventure to entirely new worlds. Resonance takes the reader on a journey into the unknown of what our future could hold in both space and technology. Daliona is full of limitless adventure from interesting animals to dangerous gravity runs to the freedom of a cyclo suit. S. Alex Martin truly captures the reader’s attention with his outstanding imagery of distant worlds and the possibilities of what technology our future could hold.

Resonance holds true to its prequel’s theme of living for the best of life, and then even builds off of that. It teaches the reader that despite your past, there is always a future that will be exactly what you make of it, so make it the best. Furthermore, though there isn’t a lot of dialogue, every character seems to have a unique feature that brings the reader face-to-face with not only Arman’s problems but also his or her own. In this way, Resonance also teaches us how to cope: knowing that we have support from loved ones and not keeping everything bottled up, waiting for all the emotions to burst out.

One thing downside was that there was limited dialogue in the book. Arman seems to have the type of personality where what he is thinking is sometimes implied, and as we are in his head, these things never seem to be spoken or carried out. However, it would be interesting for more of these things to be spoken or for implied occurrences to be written out, inviting the reactions of other characters. This would also allow for deeper character development as well as the reader being able to better understand all of the relationships between Arman and his friends.

Another aspect of Resonance that might require some patience is during actual travel between planets. While it’s better than just skipping around in the plot, space travel can be a bit boring when it comes to Arman finding things to do. However, in the grand scheme of things, I guess not every part of Martin’s extensively designed future can be as glorious as many of us today would imagine, which makes it more realistic.

The first book in this series taught us to live life to the fullest; the sequel shows us just how well the main characters Arman and Glacia are fearlessly living up to that goal and more. Even as someone who usually doesn’t get into sci-fi, I found myself racing through the chapters, continuously amazed that the next part of our unwritten future could be any more stunning or dangerous than the last. A book that creates a feeling within the reader that is very true to its title, Resonance keeps you hanging on until the very end – at which point you may just have to let go and plunge into what Arman’s future may hold in the time to come…

Still not sure if it’s for you? Try this. 3…2…1…no fear.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 6.8/10 (3.4/5 stars)
Plot: 4/10
Characters: 6/10
Writing: 8/10
Originality: 9/10

This is going to be a hard review for me to write. I was definitely looking forward to this book after reading Embassy, a novel filled with potential. In that book I found phenomenal world building and equally amazing writing, but also wanted more plot-points, and action-packed scenes. I dived into the first 100 pages or so of Resonance, quickly reading to get to the exciting parts and the sub-conflicts that eventually had to be coming. My enthusiasm waned with each passing minute, though, because the suspenseful and emotion-stirring moments never came. Though Martin’s strengths only got stronger,–the world building and descriptions of the new planet were gorgeous–it seems that the weaknesses evident in Embassy stood out even more in Resonance.

I found myself having a very difficult time getting through Resonance. For a five-hundred page book, it is vital to have a lot of subplots to keep the reader interested. Throughout the entire novel I was left wondering where it was heading, what was going to happen, what the point was. This is partially due to problems with the narrative and main character, which I’ll discuss later, but the pacing suffered immensely. Descriptive writing is certainly Martin’s biggest strength, but after hundreds of pages of explanations and descriptions, Resonance became almost unbearably tedious. At times it felt choppy, almost like reading someone’s schedule: the characters ate, worked, saw something, ate again, worked, traveled, saw something else, etc. Very little dialogue happens during these actions, and equally little purpose is given to them. I’m all for showing off an amazing planet, and I enjoyed it to a point, but this idea is applied a little excessively in Resonance. Additionally, the gravity runs and cyclo scenes were a lot less fun to read about than Hologis, which is more of a personal disappointment of mine than anything else.

The climax is certainly gut-wrenching, and it sets up the plot for the rest of the novel, which now has a direction that the first portion lacked. Because of this, the remainder of the novel proves to be much better than the first three-fourths; there are now active problems that the main character must face. Also, many of Arman’s inner feelings that have been just barely implied throughout the book finally make themselves evident. Readers also get a glimpse into other aspects of this beautifully crafted world: my favorite chapter in the whole novel is the logistics meeting about Belvun toward the end, with all the ambassadors. Reading about the political and crisis-management part of the universe is extremely refreshing.

As for the conclusion, kudos to Martin for a sudden and heart-pounding last-minute conflict that ends in a cliffhanger. However, it is also extremely confusing. I feel like it has something to do with what happened when Glacia and Arman got in trouble near the beginning of the novel, but I don’t feel that scene is explained well enough either. Despite my confusion, plot twists like that are exactly what I want to happen more in the novel. I really wanted to be fully engrossed in Resonance, to have the feeling that I cannot put it down for a second. Unfortunately, this book feels too much like a bridge between the first introductory novel, and the next novel which I assume will be riddled with interesting conflicts, wherever the characters end up.

The side characters in this novel also leave something to be desired. Few of them are three-dimensional. I’d love to learn more about characters who are theoretically part of the main group, like Kile and Allison, but are rarely mentioned, and only seem to have one or two distinguishable traits. I did really enjoy Rand. He says everything that I personally wanted to say to Arman, and I appreciated that. He is a good voice of reason and a source of comic relief. I also loved getting to read about old characters such as Ellin and John. As for Glacia, I found her character development to actually be a little stagnant in this novel. The scenes between her and Arman are awkward (though by the last fourth of the story, this is explained,) short-lived, and reveal little about her personality and other than those scenes, she isn’t in the novel a lot. I found that to be disappointing.

There is a serious problem with Arman’s narrative in Resonance. His thoughts are not always explicitly mentioned, which when done successfully can be an incredible asset to a story. Foreshadowing should always be subtle, which is difficult to achieve in a first-person narrative, where theoretically the reader has access to every relevant thought of the main character. I understand Martin’s attempt at slow and subtle development and hints of conflicts to come, but I believe he makes over-correction in his novel. When Arman’s true feelings arise, I often found myself wondering where they came from, and only after deep thought about the subtleties in dialogue was I able to ascertain where the basis for Arman’s current thoughts lay. Throughout Resonance, I feel it is partially assumed that the reader will infer as to what Arman is thinking, and this is not always the case. There are many instances of unfinished sentences or unclear trains of thought, and as someone who already has a hard time picturing what is happening, it became frustrating. I did like his character development as far as him overcoming his father’s death. I felt like that was an unfinished issue in Embassy, and was extremely pleased to see it addressed in detail in Resonance.

Despite problems with the structure and content of the novel, Martin’s writing style is certainly something that demands praise. Writing samples from him and just about any bestselling author could be put side-by-side and match in quality. There are some beautiful descriptions in Resonance. I loved the environment Martin creates in Daliona, and most shockingly, I could actually picture the planet–probably not accurately, but still. I really enjoyed the tropical and carefree environment. I also loved the different islands, and the contrasts between Undil and Daliona. I certainly hope that more planets are explored in future installments of this series, as long as different plot elements are explored with an equal amount of fervor.

Originality in Resonance is definitely on-par with some of my favorite series. The point of Embassy and Resonance in general is unique: I have read very few introspective science-fiction novels. That is, I have read very few science-fiction novels that put character development and insightful moments over action-packed scenes. That’s definitely something I admire about Martin. Also, this series has depicted a world that I could actually see becoming a reality. There isn’t a dystopian society. It is a largely peaceful world, where international cooperation is still needed on issues such as that on Belvun, and most shockingly, political systems are still intact. I love that aspect of the novel, and it certainly presents both and exciting and comforting possibility of the future.

Overall: Resonance by S. Alex Martin left more to be desired in many areas such as pacing, plot elements, and character development. However, it depicts a journey across amazingly vibrant new lands, and readers who have patience enough to read until the end are rewarding with a heart-pounding conclusion and cliffhanger.

www.goodbadanduglybooks.net

[Jess Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resonance continues the story of Arman Lance and our man isn’t done growing. With the second book in the series, Martin has found his voice and it is strong. I had been impressed with the world building in Embassy but Resonance explores new places and cultures and the work Martin poured into this book is tangible. The planet of Daliona is described in such detail that you would have thought it already existed and he did a study on it. The detail isn’t over drawn either, at no point do you find yourself wondering when the plot will pick back up or anything, it’s a nice balance. Round two also gives a clearer plot and fleshed out characters as well as new friends.
Seeing Arman’s continual growth and discovering things he actually likes outside of coffee and Glacia was wonderful. Adding an antagonistic friend to the group was a solid choice because let’s be fair we all have one of them.
The ending was kind of a gut punch but not in the worst way. While I admit I tossed the book down upon finishing it, I had to give myself a solid day to process it before I went on to the next book.

[Sneha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resonance is a total ride! It’s one of those stories where the stakes are high, the world is falling apart, and one guy is trying to figure out how to save it all. Arman Lance’s journey is intense but also super inspiring.

After seeing the damage in Ellaciss City, Arman knows things can’t stay the same. His father’s legacy of saving lives pushes him to act. And honestly, you can’t help but root for him as he leaves his home planet, Belvun, in search of answers.

When Arman and his crew land on Daliona, the whole vibe changes. It’s an ocean planet full of adventure, imagination, and science that feels more like magic. The world-building here is so cool, it makes you want to pack your bags and explore right along with them.

What I loved most? This isn’t just about saving a planet. It’s also about Arman figuring out who he is and what really matters. The self-discovery, the friendships, the risks, it all hits in a very real way.

If you’re into sci-fi with heart, adventure, and stunning worlds, Resonance is one you should totally check out. It’s fast-paced but still gives you those moments that make you stop and think.

[D.T.G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-warming novel demonstrating growth and scientific intrigue. If you enjoyed Embassy, and you're wondering whether or not to read the sequel: read the sequel.
In many ways, it's more of the same: exploring the universe and being shown an utterly vivid story world. You get to see new planets and animals, awesome new technology that I just wish we had now, and you follow the characters that you met in Embassy.
How's it different? Martin has grown. He's finding his style, working out what's effecting and bringing it to the forefront of his writing. It's imaginative, but heart-warming, bound to leave you with a smile on your face. For those that also thought that Embassy was a little slow to pick its heels up, this novel does this less so. Whilst it is by no means an action novel, there are chapters that read with a pace that left me breathless. It's exciting, thought out, and generally a pleasure to read.
With more focus on how the story world operates in terms of societies and governments, this book opens the setting out completely.

[Faye Fite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resonance gets two thumbs up, five stars, and a million little fangirl squeals.* It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a sci-fi/futuristic novel this much. In fact, the last time I felt this way about a futuristic book was when I read Embassy, and Resonance happens to be twice as good as its predecessor.
First off, let me rave a little bit about the characters:
Arman, with his fight to overcome his self-conscious and tense nature, is very easy to relate to. I wanted to cheer him on every time he overcame a new obstacle, as well as curl up in ball and cry whenever he relapsed. As always, the tiny, feisty Glacia Haverns is amazing. She’s currently my favorite female character to appear in a sci-fi novel. Her thrill-seeking personality, especially paired with Arman’s my-girlfriend-is-forcing-me attitude, makes for a fun read.
Rand is also a very interesting character. Okay, so he can be a bit of a jerk, and his tendency to tear Arman down gets very irritating. But, after a while, we see that he’s actually trying to help Arman by giving him a good kick in the pants.
Daliona’s gravity runs, a dangerous, high-tech version of the luge, was particularly thrilling to read about. Of course Glacia was excited to give it a whirl, as was Rand. Through their united interest in gravity runs, these two adrenaline junkies helped Arman learn the idea behind “No fear,” a motto that Rand passes on to him.
The cyclo suits were also pretty cool, as were the little nods to Quidditch and Star Trek, all of which made my little nerd heart happy.
My critiques? I actually only have one, it being that italics were slightly overused in this book. Does it really matter? No, because the story and writing-style was still amazing. It’s just a pet peeve of mine. I’m racking my brains for any other critiques, but honestly can’t think of any.
The writing-style is exceptional and the present-tense perfectly executed. The characters are inspiring and believable, the pacing of the story is seamless, and the new technologies, worlds, and sports are beyond cool.
Not only is Resonance a well-written story with amazing characters, but its message was one that I think we all need to be reminded of. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what you’re dealing with. You can always work to better yourself. The only person standing in the way is yourself. Sometimes you just need to look up at the stars, realize how big the world is and how much there is to do. Close your eyes and whisper, “Three, two, one. No fear.” Then get out there and chase after your dreams.
If you’re looking for an exciting story with great characters, writing, world-building, as well as a wonderful message, then Resonance is the complete package. S. Alex Martin is an extremely talented writer and definitely an indie author to watch. I would re-read this book (I don’t generally re-read novels unless they are of a stellar nature, so Resonance fits the bill) and can’t wait to see what’s in store for Arman and Glacia in the next installment of this brilliant series.

*I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review. You can find a longer, more in-depth review here: http://constantcollectible.com/2015/1...

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual Rating: About 4 1/2 stars out of 5.
I really enjoyed this book as a whole, but one of my favorite things about it is how it almost seems to be a contemporary journey in a sci-fi world. Now, I love science fiction as much as the next die-hard Star Wars fan, but there's just something about this story and its characters that make their journeys so beautiful, so unique. It's a wonderful balance, the contemporary feel with the sci-fi elements, and it makes this book into a fascinating taste of something new.
If you'd like to read more of my thoughts on this book, you can find a more in-depth review on Verbosity Book Reviews

[Skip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I expected.

This story keeps the reader engaged and it is a good story. Except for the initial premise, most of the science seems like it's secondary to the romance of the main characters. I only gave it 3 stars because I don't like cliffhanger endings.

[Gerhard · Rating 1 out of 5]

Where is the drama, the conflict, the excitement? The book sounds like a diary set in the future.

[Kati · Rating 4 out of 5]

The action took waaay too long to get started, but the world-building was very thorough. Definitely excited for the next book!