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Endeavor's Run

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Science Fiction, Adventure, Space Travel

Unknown Binding

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About the author

Tobin Marks

4 books228 followers
Author Tobin Marks has created an alien watery world called Aqueous. Orbiting a Red Dwarf 1187 light years from Earth, Aqueous is teeming with dangerous reptilian life...and one long forgotten human colony.

Marks is a world traveler who grew up in a household of rocket scientists. As a boy he had a front row seat observing many NASA and NOAA projects. Now from his home in north west Baja he has written the trilogy: The Hope Prophecy. Book one: Endeavors Run, is a blend of real science, science fiction, and fantasy. Book two: Katana Red, and book three: Drakon Rus, are exciting continuations of the series. In March, 2021 the prequel: Ark of the Apocalypse was released to rave reviews, and he is now working on the second trilogy: The Hope Progression.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
Profile Image for May.
336 reviews31 followers
January 19, 2020
Wow, that was one hell of a ride!

Endeavor's Run was very confusing at the beginning, what with the different locations and characters, and I just felt like "where is this going?" and "who am I supposed to pay attention to?" However, after a few chapters I finally got a grasp on it and I'm awfully glad I did.

With a blend of science fiction and fantasy, Endeavor's Run managed to captivate my full attention, and I found myself trying to connect the dots and figure out how to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together. It was truly rewarding when a question was finally answered. However, a new one simply took its place, keeping me hooked until the very last page.

The world-building was meticulous and in my opinion, quite detailed. I got a very clear image of the setting of the book, as well as the conditions that influenced- and continue to influence- the characters.
The characters themselves were each very different from one another, and I enjoyed getting to know all of them, even the crazy, hateful ones. Thankfully, many were very likable and most were quite realistic and credible.
The dialogue was very entertaining to read. I honestly don't know how people address each other on spaceships, so it was novel and refreshing. The many abbreviations were annoying though, and some technical explanations went right over my head.

That being said, this book managed to break my heart at times and make me laugh out loud at others. It has action, mystery, humour, and adventure, all in 180 pages. Not to mention the plot reveals. There was one that had my mouth hanging unattractively open in a What the hell did I just read? moment. To be honest, I still can't wrap my head around it!

There are still many questions that need to be answered, which I believe would be the job of the next two books in the series. I'm honestly looking forward to reading them, especially as the ending was very shocking; I've never really imagined it would come to this.

All in all, Endeavor's Run was very enjoyable and captivating. I strongly recommend it to those who heart themselves a good dose of prophecies, dragons, spaceships, psychic powers, sword fights, and aliens. This was an awsome combination, in my opinion.
Profile Image for Mel.
74 reviews10 followers
May 28, 2022
Endeavor's Run by Tobin Marks
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My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
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Has anyone ever approached you with "hear me out: space dragons" and waved their hands in the air so you can imagine said dragons in space?

Me either, but I'm telling you now... SPACE DRAGONS. *waves hands in a manner meant to encourage imagining said dragons in space*

There's a very compelling world being built within this first installment of The Hope Prophecy series here and I encourage you to experience this for yourself. Traveling through space is a crew aboard the Endeavor in a sort of post-apocalyptic/dystopian-ish world in search of the space travelers before them who have gone missing. The crew of the Endeavor find themselves at a planet inhabited by aliens, odd lizard-looking creatures (although I'm not sure how coincidental it is that they also call themselves lizards when they're thousands of lightyears away from Earth and no one has ever heard of or seen them before?) - and of course, dragons. We start off this story with such an intriguingly strong introduction and within just a few short chapters emotional damage has been established...and I'm not mad about it in the least. I'm very much in love with the combination of science fiction and fantasy rolled up into one in this fun, adventurous, fast-paced story!

I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between Alex and Baseball. Their banter and squabbles throughout kept a sometimes dark, but always humorous note which kept the pace of the book very steady. I never felt the story drag or slack because there was always something exciting happening with these two characters. I'm curious to see what is going on with Alex and his connection to the lizards/dragons/planet??? I need answers!

I'm also curious to see what's up with Bayne/Count Darx. There's still a lot of confusion there for me but I have a feeling that will all get some enlightenment in later books.

The ending left on such a high cliffhanger and I'm very much looking forward to reading the next installment!

A big thank you to Tobin Marks and Henry Roi PR for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Lorena  Deering.
8 reviews2 followers
January 3, 2023
Endeavor's Run by Tobin Marks is an engaging piece that I am grateful to have read this year. It centers on a journey of self-discovery for the main characters. The story tells of the adventures of the crew aboard the IFC Endeavor, a spaceship on a search mission to investigate a lost vessel and its missing crew after they discover a strange incomplete message that was transmitted by a drone and left dormant for almost a thousand years. Then they encounter the planet Aqueous and all of its fascinating mysteries. The author was able to shine a light on a fictional civilization in space while analyzing its foreign culture and traditions. I appreciate the author's use of dates and locations at the beginning of each chapter to clarify any confusion and maintain the attention of the reader. They allowed me to grasp the flow of the storyline easily with little to no disruption.

Many of the characters in this book were written properly with well-rounded emotions. They were also relatable because they learned the hard way that life is often unfair. For example, I learned a valuable lesson from Alex when he helped Basil to embrace the beauty of friendship by letting people in after the bullying fiasco. I believe this is a quality that more people should try to embody. Anya was forced to take the mantle of authority at the tender age of fourteen after her brother killed their father. Despite the setbacks, she was determined to do her best as the new Tsarina. It was interesting to see Bayne's growth and his new mental abilities after all he had endured, especially at the hands of Tsar Yakov. He was able to prove that he is more than just a victim of abuse under his father's shadow, despite struggling after accidentally killing his aunt. I believe these characters have a lot in common because they had to fight for their worth.

It will be a shame not to mention the author's use of appropriate terms and vocabulary. They made the story easy to understand and show proof of research and/or expertise on the author's part. I did not find any errors, whichever is evidence of professional editing.

I believe the book was very appealing because it shows both the good and bad parts of technology. The book ends with a cliffhanger that is unexpected and left me wanting more. I enjoyed the reading experience and look forward to picking up the remaining installments of the trilogy to learn the fate of my favorite characters.

Despite these positive parts, this book also had negative aspects. It is quite lengthy. This discouraged me from finishing it in a single sitting. However, this does not necessarily sum up as a disadvantage. I just wished the author would have made it much shorter and still passed his message across with the same precision. Another issue I discovered was that the plot of the book developed slowly and it took me a while to understand the author's perspective and ideas.

As a result of the reasons mentioned above, I have decided to rate this book four out of five stars. I would have loved to rate it higher because I believe the author did a good job, but the issues were too significant to ignore. I suggest that the book should only be read by mature readers because of the high level of profane content and gory details. Sci Fi fanciers would relish this book.
12 reviews3 followers
January 3, 2023
The possibilities in the universe are limitless. Humans are the most intelligent species on Earth, and they live here. But we can't discount the possibility that our galaxy may be home to a much more sophisticated and intellectual civilization. The possibility of alien invasion has always been a contentious issue, but more recently, man has been able to grasp the vastness of our cosmos.

The last human survivors attempt to save what they can from the planet a thousand years after World War X obliterated it. Some chose to live in underground bunkers, while others established an alien colony. Imperial Duchess Thorna of the Thith Empire has vowed to wipe out all humans living on the northern continent and intends to surpass all previous Thith queens in power.

In contrast, the 1,000-year-old Magellan II spaceship inexplicably makes an appearance in the cosmos carrying a crucial message. Finding this starship is difficult enough as it is, but the admirals must find this message quickly because it may contain the only chance left for humanity. The challenging duty of operating this spacecraft and discovering the message in Magellan II falls to Alex Porter, a seventh-generation male descended directly from Nadezhda Yanbeyeva. What does this prophetic message contain? And how do they locate this supposedly ghost-ship-like, 1,000-year-old spacecraft? Pick up a copy of Endeavors Run to learn more.

This book contains several different stories, but Bayne the Bastard's tale was one that I particularly liked and connected with. His father often mistreated him at the beginning of his story, when he was just a young lad. It was touching to see this struggle in his early life. However, he turned out to be a bold young man, which surprised me. His complete metamorphosis from the bullied youngster to the dreaded man astounded me. It helped me realize that a person's family is the first group of individuals who can make or break them.

This book was enjoyable to read. All of the tales were intriguing, original, and suspenseful. However, I didn't enjoy the multiple storytelling. There were too many things going on at once. I believe the author ought to have focused more on the primary narrative and avoided covering everything in one sitting. In that case, what was actually crucial would have received full comprehension. For instance, the narrative of Alex Porter, who was supposedly the most significant character in the novel, received little attention. Given that he is a seventh-generation descendent of the Yanbeyeva family, his tale deserves further attention.

There were a few minor errors I found while reading, but it was overall a professionally edited book. For the reasons mentioned above, I would give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Lovers of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and adventure would love this book as it explores these genres and more. Also, a mature audience would enjoy it better because it contains lots of profanities.
18 reviews1 follower
April 6, 2023
I was equally engrossed from the first to the final page by Endeavor's Run. This extraordinary book, which is set a thousand years in the future, picks up the forebears of the characters from the first book and plunges right into a fresh, gripping tale. It starts with an enigmatic message that Interstellar Fleet Command receives that was sent by a legendary starship a thousand years ago. First, a sophisticated starship called Monarch is sent on a mission to find the source of this cryptic message. Then, after Monarch mysteriously loses contact with Interstellar Fleet Command, Endeavor is sent on a nine-year mission to the Class-M exoplanet Aqueous, where her crew finds that the planet is home to not only alien life, but also a long-standing human colony.

I must congratulate the author for bringing together so many overlapping plotlines. The method of conveying the story was fairly intricate and planned out. Such an exciting and captivating read. I have a soft spot for fantasy books that combine several stories into a single, mind-blowing conclusion.

The characters have been expertly created, and they are simple to picture and identify with. You won't want to put this book down, and the surprising tale turns will keep you interested all the way through. A satisfying rhythmic progression can be heard in the reading, and the pace is evenly distributed.

Ultimately, "Endeavors Run" included a ton of complex and fascinating characters that made my eyes sparkle. We all know I can't resist the temptation of ethically problematic and conflicted people, so it should come as no surprise that I devoured this like a delicious gourmet feast.
7 reviews1 follower
January 3, 2023
A follow-up to the initial novel Ark of apocalypse and the first of a trilogy, Endeavor's Run depicts a period, thousand years after the obliteration the planet Earth by a major cataclysmic event , humankind has reemerged and remade another world, more advanced than before. Mars has been the center point for the development of an armada of human starships ready to start the investigation and colonization of the universe until an old message is picked up .
 
The possibility and authenticity of this message becomes huge puzzle to the IFC as it appears to have been transmitted by the legendary Magellan II, a spaceship which supposedly left earth a more than thousand years ago and was thought of by most, as just a fairytale. Nevertheless it drives the IFC to send it's advanced spaceship, IFC Monarch into deep space exploration to determine its origin and when it disappears without trace, it's sister ship the IFC Endeavor is sent on a rescue mission.
 
Alex Porter from a bloodline with supernatural abilities, grows up to become a brilliant pilot and joins the mission together with his friend , Baseball and the other crew members as they embark on the journey to rescue their sister ship whilst searching for traces of human existence on the planet, Aqueous.
 
On arrival to the planet, they are faced with similar catastrophe as the previous exploration vessels,  but being prepared this time, are able to maneuver the planets unnatural defense (or perhaps they thought) and arrive just in time to witness several mind bugging events, which presented them with startling consequences.
 
The author really took his time in molding the characters this time, making them more real with entertaining dialogues. The readers can connect easily with their personalities and get emotionally attached
 
The author also does well to explain a lot of stuff about space exploration that a lover of sci-fi would enjoy. Surprisingly there's also a huge dose of fantasy to balance it out so you get the best of both worlds
 
Unfortunately, there were lots of complicated chapters, bogus information which didn't contribute to the main story... A reader who isn't accustomed with most of these scientific terms will easily get bored with the book. Finally I am rating this book 4 out of 5 stars.
21 reviews1 follower
January 5, 2023
WOW! This book was beautiful, exquisite.

What a powerful story. I didn't think I was going to like this book as much as I did... but I really did. I got so involved in this book that my emotions were going haywire. Not just feeling happy and sad as you do with most books, but feeling anxious and angry and dissappointed. Everything these characters felt I began to feel. That's definitely the mark of a great novel and a great writer.

The characters are also well-developed and three demensional. Never once did I see a character that was just there to further the story along and then left, without a background or history to them. Every single character gracing that page had a soul and had a past. The snippets of imagery, the nuggets of wisdom are so visceral, that I had to pause for a while. I had to gather my thoughts before continuing.

There were so many different twists in this book that I never saw coming. It was also so real that I had to Google, "Is Endeavor run based on a true story?

As usual there's so much more I want to say about this book, but for something this good you'll just have to read it yourself. Trust me, it may sound like something you really don't think you'd care for, but you'd be surprised how much Tobin marks writing and characters pull you in. Soon you'll find yourself very grateful you listened to me and picked up this book. Seriously, this book is worth your time. Likewise, it is easy to comprehend the authors motive, I didn’t come across any errors while reading. Therefore I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars.
13 reviews3 followers
December 26, 2022
Endeavor's Run is the first book in the Hope Prophecy series. I think this is a pretty good first novel. it is certainly an elephantine one; fortunately, the size didn't seem unecessary and i was aborbed by the ideas and narrative from beginning to end. One that weaves lush mythology and vibrant world-building to create an immerse narrative that you won’t want to leave. I liked that the characters had to work for everything; they didn’t just instinctively know what to do; they had to fight tooth and nail every step of the way. It kept things realistic (as realistic as a fantasy novel could be).

It’s impossible to describe this book’s scope and richness of character without giving away details that you’re better off reading yourself. No page space is wasted here and the fact that this is the first book in an upcoming trilogy makes me incredibly excited.The ending is intense, unpredictable, but highly satisfying. When I finished reading this story the first thought I had upon reflection was that there is no way I could be an author because I could never write anything this good so what would be the point? It's one of the best science fiction and fantasy books I've ever read Overall, this enchanting epic fantasy is a book you definitely want to get your hands on ASAP, trust me fantasy lovers—you’re going to love it!

I had an extraordinary reading experience and would be recommending it to people who enjoy adventure and fantasy novels with twists. I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. 
Profile Image for Madilynn Dale.
Author 25 books344 followers
March 20, 2022
Endeavor’s Run Book 1 in the Hope Prophecy Series by Tobin Marks

Tobin Marks has created a masterpiece. Not only has he created a magical world on a different planet in space, but he has a constructed some fantastic characters. This is the second book I have read from this author, and I’m completely blown away. This story was full of suspense, action, fantasy, family craziness, and a bit of magic. It’s a fantastic mash up of science fiction, fantasy, and adventure.
The book is told in third person and follows three characters specifically. All three are descendants of the female lead in Marks book Ark of the Apocalypse. I was intrigued with how he tied this book into his previous one. You do not have to read Ark of The Apocalypse to know what’s occurring in this book it has some great back story to the world and characters.
The alien species featured in this story is one that sparked my curiosity. The way their being is made up is different than what one would expect. I love how they are tied into the happenings on the planet Aqueous but I’m interested in uncovering their main plan. Just what do they want from the people and other beings of this planet?
In comparing this book to his previous work, I found that the flow of the story was easier to follow. The characters, especially Porter, had more depth to them and humor. One in particular had a lot of darkness but I won’t mention why. That would give away too much. I’m curious to see how the three characters eventually come together.
The ending was a bit of a surprise for me. I had a sense of what was going to happen, but I was absolutely thrown for a loop. I can’t wait for the next book in this series because I have so many questions about several individuals.
This book would appeal to anyone interested in apocalyptic reads, sci/fi, fantasy, adventure, outer space, dragons, and new worlds. There is a bit of blood and death in it but it’s not over the top descriptive. Excellent read and easily a 5-star novel.
Profile Image for Brittni | brittnis_books_.
89 reviews6 followers
May 31, 2022
Holy smokes😳 This book was one wild ride! The absolute perfect blend of sci-fi and fantasy. I still can’t get over how good this one is!

I really wanted to give this one 5 stars but it took me about 40% of the book to actually get into it. The beginning is a little confusing as there are multiple viewpoints and locations and it took a minute for me to be able to differentiate between them. There was also a side storyline that really had nothing to do with this book? I’m hoping we get more on it in the coming books of this series because I really didn’t see how it fit into this one. 

But let me tell you, this story is just WOW! The crew of the Endeavor have traveled thousands of light years on a rescue mission to find their sister ship that went missing long ago. What they find is the planet Aqueous and it’s many interesting inhabitants. The world building is absolutely fantastic! We get introduced to humans, aliens, and FREAKING SPACE DRAGONS! One would think that’s quite the weird combination of characters but it works, okay?! 

We are introduced to a lot of characters in this book and while I think I have some idea, I’m still trying to figure out how they all connect together. I’m getting some serious Darth Vader vibes from Bayne/Lord Darx and the friendship between Alex and Baseball had me laughing out loud the entire time.

Endeavor’s Run ends on a serious cliffhanger and now I am (not so) patiently waiting for the next installment to be released! 

Hands down one of my top reads for May and if you’re into sci-fi and/or fantasy I would highly recommend checking this one out! 

Thank you to Odyssey Books and the author for the gifted e-book in exchange for my honest review. 
Profile Image for Kyla.
168 reviews9 followers
August 6, 2018
The tantalizing first installment of a promised trilogy, Endeavor's Run blends in nicely balanced fashion hard science fiction and fantasy. Space ships, and aliens, and dragons (oh my!), blended with believable characters you want to root for. Women and men mingle and work as equals, once a rarity in the masculine halls of science fiction. There is a touch of Saturday-matinee flavor, as the "good guys" are brave and smart and resourceful, and the villains thoroughly villainous, but this is a good thing and adds to the entertainment value, without detracting from the realism.

I did subtract one star only because many of the transitions between the main locations are choppy and a little hard to follow, especially at the beginning of the book. Once the reader gets used to the style, and acquainted with the characters and action at each location, it ceases to be an issue, but it does make it a little harder to get into the world of the book quickly.

Overall, I'm happy to recommend Endeavor's Run. It's a pleasure to read and has the perfect cliff-hanger ending to whet your appetite for whatever Book 2 will bring.

(Disclaimer: I received a free copy for review.)
3 reviews1 follower
November 13, 2022
A book by Tobin Marks: Endeavor's run

This book is outrageously interesting. It is a combination of fantasy and science fictions. This book begins a thousand years after world war, Alex Porter and his crew embark on a mission to planet aqueous to locate a missing starship named "monarch". On this planet, the encounter aliens, dragons and humans.

Would their mission be successful?

Unfortunately, the are too many locational changes making the book slightly difficult to comprehend particularly at the start of this book. However, when you read this book with an open and optimistic mindset, the picture becomes more clear.......Asides that, I didn't encounter any errors while reading this book.
If you're into fictions and fantasy books, I highly recommend this book on your shelf
Therefore I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Book Blenders.
2 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2022
To begin with, I am really happy that Science fiction authors like Tobin Marks still exist. This was a beautiful book to read.

Endeavor’s Run is book one of the Hope Prophecy trilogy. The Hope Prophecy is the sequel series to The Magellan II Chronicles. Ark of the Apocalypse is book one of this series. Endeavor’s Run takes place 1000 years after Ark of the Apocalypse, and is a direct tie in. The award winning Ark of the Apocalypse was released in March, 2021.

If you are a fan of science fiction and fantasy, you have to grab this book because it is one great piece.

Positive Reviews

Characters: Mark did a really great job in building the characters. I appreciate how each character seemed like an individual and carried so much realistic energy. It wasn’t difficult to feel their emotions through their conversations and thoughts. The characters are interesting and introduced during the first parts of the book allowing readers to understand their personality and different backgrounds.

Alex Porter was definitely my favorite character, having lost his mum at an early age. His paranormal and non-paranormal abilities are exciting to read. His gradual self-growth and development allowed me to truly understand his character. He is also a funny character and I truly loved his relationship with his bestfriend(Baseball). He is also unaware of his true destiny and how he is entangled with a thousand year prophecy.

Another character I found truly remarkable was Captain Jennings, a man who was facing his own demons while fueling their voyage with hope.

Science-Fiction Potrayal: Here’s what you should know about this book. It is a science fiction masterpiece. Mark uses scientific research to highlight important parts of this book. Great features in the book includes Space travel, star system, and scientific discoveries and technology. By explaining some facts in details, it gave me a clear insight of some aspects of the book that I vaguely misinterpreted as a science fiction newbie. Endeavor’s run was Intended to be a science fiction and fantasy novel and I say Mark did an excellent job in delivering both genres in one book.

Fantasy: Reading about Dinosaurs and the lizard people(Normad’r) on Aqueous was exciting and thrilling. Talk about plot twists when I discovered that the Normad’r have been alive and undetected by any race and also plotting to destroy all living forms on both earth and aqueous. But at least, their reason for planning to kill all life forms was explained and I could indeed relate it to our present existence; made by God, also taken by him.

Series And Plot Development:

You don’t have to read the Ark of the apocalypse to understand this. As a matter of fact, they are both part of two different series and can be understood as a stand-alone. However, it would be great to buy the Ark of Apocalypse alongside this books to add meaning and depth to the stories.

The plot development was great. I don’t see any better way to enhance your readers understanding than a good and organized plot.

The story begins with an almost extinct earth populated by few humans. Each group scattered all around the globe with a certain part developing paranormal abilities called astral projection which is more dominant in the seventh generation male(we can see Alex develops his powers while staying at his relatives after his mother’s death).

On another planet(aqueous), another group of human live with dinosaurs with a leader called Tzar. The dinosaur tribe and the non-dinousar tribe are at war. Great news! Just kidding.

We can see the story progressing to the voyage to Aqueous by the Endeavors after a mystery message was received and the crew decided to discover the mystery behind starship monarch. Here comes the spoilers!

On arrival to Aqueous, Alex learns that he is in fact part of a prediction by a book called the Hope prophecy but he is not alone. Anya, the Tzarina of the dragon tribe is also part of this prediction.(you have to read the book to understand). Fast forward to the discovery of the lizard people and to the end of the book where we find that Alex and other crew members are destroyed by the Normad’r and Alex is on the verge of death on Aqueous. And Mark ended this book with a cliff hanger!

Negative Reviews

Slow Beginning: I initially found this book extremely hard to read. To be honest, I had started reading this book from the first day Mark had sent me a free E-book, but I kept pausing and returning to other books until the sixteenth chapter where my interest was piqued.

The book is great but the beginning, the first few chapters seemed like they would never end. Each character was introduced in a back and forth manner and the past and present were scrambled together.

There was so many confusing chapters as I kept diving back and forth into everyone’s lives and stories. No action, no drama, just several chapters with no spark. Many readers do not possess the patience to read half of a book before finding something interesting to hold onto.

Poor Description: 40% of the entire book was spent bubbling back and forth. And when we eventually needed a thorough description of an entirely new world( aqueous), we got nothing. I was truly disappointed with the inability to properly explore aqueous. I needed more scenes on this planet and I believe it would have truly made this novel more remarkable if he had directed more creative thoughts to aqueous.

Cliff Hanger:

99% of readers love cliff hangers. It’s that extra motivation that keeps you going. I think I am part of the 1% that despises this. I can’t watch a movie without spending time researching the end and interesting facts about each episode. Likewise, I hate to read a 434 paged novel only to realize it ends with a cliff hanger. It’s not fair!!!!

In conclusion, Endeavor’s run is a great book for science fiction lovers. Tobin Marks Is a great writer and he has created a fascinating, unique world for SFF lovers. I am satisfied with this book and I hope he gets better with his other works.


Thanks to Tobin Marks For Providing A Free Copy For Me!


Read This And Many More Reviews On My Website!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Goodness CN.
80 reviews11 followers
November 27, 2022
The world was devastated by radiation over a thousand years ago, killing billions of lives. The remaining population of Earth was a little over a million people. This disaster produced a new world free of sociopolitical activity, disorder, and anarchy, including religion. This period was known as the Enclave Era. Now we see more spaceships, aliens, dragons, and a new world that appears wet - the planet aqueous. A message from the past resurfaces, and an ark ship is dispatched to study and decode it properly. Regrettably, the ship never returned.

Alex Porter, the seventh generation king who is also a new generation human, headed out with his squad to find "the monarch" - the missing spacecraft. On this journey, they arrive at Planet Aqueous, a new world. What is the nature of Planet Aqueous? Will Alex and his team be able to locate this ship? To learn more, read Tobin Marks' science fiction novel Endeavors Run.

Wow! That is, in fact, my reaction to this book. This novel left me dumbfounded multiple times. While reading, I wondered, "How can one book be this good?" Normally, I wouldn't choose to read science fiction since, for the longest time, I've believed that the finest experience with this genre comes from viewing it on a big ol' television screen. Tobin, on the other hand, proved me incorrect. He appeared to be attempting to disprove my alleged rationale. Tobin's writing style was, to put it mildly, mind-boggling. I've never been so enthralled by the book before. It just had a lot to do with the narrative of the story. This is not your typical sci-fi novel with predictable locations, characters, and activities. The author introduces us to a bizarre new realm called Planet Aqueous. The concept underlying the many elements in this book will keep readers interested. You have probably not heard of a damp planet inhabited by vengeful aliens. That feature is fantastic.

Let's get started on the map. When I first opened the book, the well-detailed map gave me the impression that this would be a wild journey - and it was, but in a wonderful manner. There are various locations referenced throughout the book. Drakon Rus, Rosina's Lair, the Sanctuary of the Final Order, and more such locations exist. This book's finest feature is the map. Why? Because there were so many locations in this novel. Readers would not know how far or where a specific location is without a map. With a comprehensive map, the reading experience is significantly enhanced.

There were a lot of scene changes in this book because it was written in the third person. There were different exploring and discoveries that happened simultaneously. While reading, there was no question as to which scene was taking place. The description in this novel is astonishingly detailed, and the characters are motivating to read about. Each of them has a unique feature. This all comes down to how effectively these particular personalities were created, owing to the author's exceptional expertise in creative writing.

The list might go on forever. There were so many aspects of this novel that I adored. That is to say; I didn't discover anything that bothered me a lot and jumped out as being disagreeable. This was a fascinating ride, and I'm pleased I found this book.

Additionally, I found no typographical or grammatical errors in this masterpiece; this book was exceptionally edited. Thus, I rate Endeavors Run 5 out of 5 stars.

I recommend this book to sci-fi, fantasy, and adventure fans since it has some mind-blowing science-fiction, fantasy, and adventure moments
Profile Image for Julia.
387 reviews8 followers
September 29, 2022
An interesting sci-fi story full of hard-hitting stuff! The descriptions are lively (and violent when they need to be!!). I said “woah” out loud a few times. Especially at the beginning, the description of WWX made me gasp!

I think one of the strongest things in this book is that characters who are supposed to be intimidating and terrifying are built up SO well to be, in fact, very intimidating. Rodinya and Tsarina Anya are freakin' cool and I love their dynamic and the way that they talk to other characters. Also, the Tsar is a great hateable character. Delicious!!!! His last scene where they’re trying to discuss his successor is FANTASTIC, super engaging stuff.

Out of all the different POVs and plot threads, I found Alex's chapters the easiest to get in flow with. I LOVE Alex’s chapters. As an example, the descriptions in chapter 19 are particularly hard-hitting and immersive (and I read this chapter about altitude sickness only a few days after returning from a trip I took to the Andes in Peru, myself!! It’s real haha!). His narrator chapters are where the descriptive writing really shines.

I think there are a few things that made it a little difficult to get immersed sometimes though: sometimes the dialogue is too “give us exposition-y.” As as few examples, very early on we learn a lot about the Tsar’s son because someone (who should already know who the Tsar’s son is) is told about him. This happens somewhat often especially in the beginning, so I really think sometimes dialogue scenes are a little long and maybe could be less exposition-y. I feel like I learned very-important backstory and worldbuilding notes only because a character sort of unnaturally spoke out loud to me the reader directly, where some just… outright exposition in the narration would have been smoother, wouldn’t have made conversations feel as blunt.

Also, I think sometimes it’s a little hard to tell what all of the different plot threads have in common – I think it’d help if there was a “common thread” that was clearer from the start what all of these different POVs are dealing with. They’re all interesting in their own rights but I wish it was a little clearer ‘what’ they have in common because as-is it’s a bit easy to get confused until closer to the middle of this pretty-long story.

Once the plot threads start connecting, this is really creative though. I like all the travel aspects, it’s easy to imagine all these different creatures and races living on the different continents. Overall this is a really complex big universe, which is great for sci-fi!
2 reviews1 follower
December 2, 2022
A starship named monarch is sent out on a mission to track down the origin of a cryptic message, but the monarch loses contact with it. Endeavor soon embarks on a year’s mission to planet aqueous. On this planet, they meet with aliens, humans, and space dragons.

I was not in any way ready for the plot twists in this book. The tensions were explicit and just right. The story instantly consumes you, plays with your mind, and takes you on a sweet adventure. The world-building is phenomenal.His writing is crisp and eloquent, with vivid attention to detail. Marks mastered the art of character building. All the identities are well-developed and complement each other very well. 

The language is simple, and the editing of the book is flawless. Endeavors run deserves the widest possible readership and merits a 5 out of 5 stars. Finally, I would recommend this book to adult fantasy enthusiasts. There was so much to take from this book.
2 reviews1 follower
November 30, 2022
This book begins a thousand years after world war. Alex Porter, a pilot on the starship Endeavor, and his team shortly embark on an odyssey to locate the missing starship, Monarch. There is a mystery due to the vanishing of the Starship Monarch that evolved while investigating an old distress signal that stemmed beyond mars.

This author has a great imagination and I'm glad it's being shared with stories. It's an enjoyable read filled with thrilling adventures and unforeseen twists. It is a fast paced action-packed story with prominent characters. I felt immersed in every section of this book because I could feel my imagination coming to life.

There are few complex grammars I encountered while reading this book but I’m pleased I got to learn new words.

Ultimately, I had a very smooth reading experience. I did not find any errors in my reading, meaning the editing was flawless. I'm rating Endeavors run by Tobin Marks 5 out of 5 stars.
Furthermore, I would recommend this book to enthusiasts of fantasy and adventure novels.
9 reviews
June 11, 2018
As a fan of both Science Fiction and Fantasy, Endeavor's Run satisfied my penchant for SciFi while delivering the creatures and mystique that I love about Fantasy. This is the first book in a trilogy and is a very enjoyable read. Endeavor's Run smoothly mixes detailed sci-fi science with dragons and interesting aliens.

The Starship Endeavor, commissioned specifically for this mission, is tasked with solving the mystery of the disappearance of the Starship Monarch while investigating a millennia-old distress call that originated beyond Mars. The deeper mystery is that the distress call referred to the possible demise of a legendary, nearly mythical, starship 1,400 light years away. Meanwhile, the culmination of centuries of selective breeding may fulfill a prophecy hoped for by some and dreaded by others.

I look forward to reading the rest of this delightful story and finding out the truth of the mysterious aliens.
Profile Image for Esther Deekor.
8 reviews2 followers
October 17, 2022
A starship named monarch is sent out on a mission to track down the origin of a cryptic message, but the monarch loses contact with it. Endeavor soon embarks on a year’s mission to planet aqueous. On this planet, they meet with aliens, humans, and space dragons. There's a reason for the expedition. But what could it be?

There’s an intense presence of realistic characters in the books. I was mesmerized by Alex Porter's character because of his outstanding determination. His striking passion and relentlessness were refreshing. The combination of fantasy and exploration, fused with simple diction, makes readers effortlessly drawn to this book.

At the onset, it may be problematic to apprehend the author’s points. However, come to this book with an open mind. It gets better as you progress. I did not encounter any errors. Thus, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. This book is a must-read. Big ups to Tobin Marks!
Profile Image for Sarika Vivien.
5 reviews1 follower
April 6, 2023
There is a significant amount of science fiction and some fantasy in it. I don't like reading fantasy novels. I do, however, like reading this. The blend of science fiction and fantasy was wonderful.

The story starts a thousand years after the conclusion of World War Two. Little Alex Porter has to deal with the death of his mother due to an epidemic. Just before she dies, she uses astral projection to send him a message instructing him to protect humanity from further catastrophe. A surprising message is sent to the exoplanet Aqueous after she dies. When Alex reaches adulthood, he joins the starship Endeavour on its voyage to the Galaxy as a pilot. This objective is to locate the Monarch, a missing spacecraft that vanished while being investigated for the mysterious message. Alex is also unaware of his true purpose and how it relates to the mysterious disappearance of the famed Magellan ii, the first starship ever launched to Aqueous, a year before the World War Extinction. The mysterious communication was received, and the existence of Magellan II was confirmed.

Beyond a certain point, the plot makes it simple to follow the characters, but it's clear that this isn't a straightforward story. It can be an emotional rollercoaster at times, and I could sense the characters' plight. It struck me as having a decent balance; it wasn't terribly depressing or gloomy, nor was it excessively light-hearted and merry. Tobin Marks is unquestionably knowledgeable. Everything that happens in the first two thirds of the novel is plausible and credible because of the author's skilled writing. Good character development produces trustworthy people who display globally understood cultural characteristics.

This book is interesting, and there is a lot to learn from it. The author's intent is very simple to understand, and I had no trouble finding any flaws while reading. As a result, I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5.
Profile Image for Paula | pastbookish.
308 reviews8 followers
January 18, 2023
Author: Tobin Marks

+ Thank you Henry Roi PR for the #gifted copy!

———

+ R E V I E W
This is not normally my genre of choice to read but it was a good one. I thought the book was written well and intricately. The world-building and character development were detailed so i was able to picture it in my head clearly.

Story wise, i feel like there were some parts that could have been edited out but over all it was enjoyable to read. I also enjoyed the characters and their qualities because they definitely added some interesting elements to the story. The dialogues also felt natural which made the book easier to read. In conclusion, I recommend this to sci-fi readers and lovers!
Profile Image for Samuel Akang.
6 reviews1 follower
March 25, 2023
Sci-fi and Fantasy blended together!! thats Endeavor's run in a summary.

Despite my best efforts, I found it difficult to get into this book until a few chapters in. It took me a while to figure out which viewpoints and locations were which at the beginning because there are so many of them. There was also a side plot that was really unrelated to this book? I really didn't see how it fit into this book, so I'm hoping we learn more about it in the ensuing books in this series

However, let me just say that this story is just WOW! The Endeavor's crew has traveled thousands of light years on a search mission for their long-lost sister ship. What they find is the planet Aqueous and it’s many interesting inhabitants. The world-building is fantastic in every way! We learn about people, extraterrestrials, and FREAKING SPACE DRAGONS! That might seem like a strange combination of characters, but it works, right?

I am anxiously awaiting the publication of the sequel because Endeavor's Run ends on a major cliffhanger.

Without a doubt, if you enjoy science fiction and/or fantasy, I highly recommend giving this book a try.
Profile Image for Patricia Cifra.
3 reviews3 followers
September 17, 2018
Imagine living a 1000 years from now in a world where an alien race threatens human existence. Then imagine a character who has the power to astrally project thoughts and feelings, and whose destiny involves finding a starship that mysteriously vanished. Combine all of this with optical computers, a maternal artificial intelligence system, dragons and reptilian aliens, and the effect is a mind-boggling story.


The story starts 1000 years after the World War Extinction. A young boy, Alex Porter, is facing the death of his mother from an epidemic. Shortly before her death she astrally projects him a message that he will save humanity from further destruction. When she dies a mysterious message is received by an exoplanet known as Aqueous.


When Alex grows up he becomes a pilot on the starship Endeavour which is bound for the Aqueous. This mission is to find the missing starship, the Monarch, that disappeared during the investigation of the mysterious message. At the same time, Alex is unaware of his true destiny and its connection with the disappearance of the very first starship, the fabled Magellan 2, which was sent to Aqueous a year before the World War Extinction. The existence of Magellan 2 became a reality once the mysterious message was received. However, Magellan 2 carried a woman who was behind the Hope Prophecy 1000 years before Alex was born; Alex is central to this Prophecy. But, Alex is not the only main character in the story.


The characters have a distinct human warmth. A reader almost feels their insecurities and strengths through their conversations and thoughts. I could feel the pain of Commander Hammer who wants to find his wife who went missing on the Monarch; I understood Baseball’s ( Alex’s best friend) intelligence and intuition; and I could warm to Captain Jennings, the leader of the Endeavour.

I found Captain Jennings to be a very inspiring character. He had to deal with past tragedies while keeping a professional image for his crew. There is a moment in the story when Jennings looks in the mirror and re-evaluates his life. This made me great empathy for Jennings, especially with the tragedy near the end of the book.


Most importantly, the author uses scientific data to make situations more realistic. An interesting example was the optic computer which was a PC that was implanted in the optic nerve using a ring as a personal server. The author adds the consequences of this system failing: a person would lose their sight, hearing and speech. This is an ingenious creation by the author. It almost has a H.G. Wells quality to it; this idea may become a reality in the near future.


I highly recommend this book because it paves the way for 21st century science fiction. This book offers an emotional character interaction and intensive action scenes. It mindfully creates scientific technology which blends into the purpose of the mission. At times I felt as though I was in a virtual reality with the characters and scenes. On a final note, this book is carefully crafted to combine the human spirit and science fiction.

Patricia Cifra
Profile Image for Katie.
5 reviews
July 26, 2021
In this follow up to the first book, Arc of The Apocalypse, Endeavor’s Run continues with the fast paced multi character Syfy Fantasy tale.
Endeavor's run picks up where Arc of The Apocalypse leaves off in this futuristic post-apocalyptic world. The human race has survived the planet ending nuclear Armageddon in two fronts, Mars and Earth together and the planet of Aqueous. The small contingent of communities that survived underground on earth have joined with the Mars outpost and believe they are the last of the human race. They have evolved and have an active space program and advanced technology to explore space. Acting off a mysterious interstellar message sent 1,000 years ago, they set out on a mission to see if the myth of the ancient spaceship sent to explore a far off planet is actually true. Alex, the funny and cocky protagonist of this story, eventually ends up piloting the ship to search for the missing crew from the original mission. Alex is a direct descendant from the chosen family, though his abilities are not as advanced as those who came before him.
On Aqueous, the two human cities have thrived. The powers embedded into the human race through the chosen family have evolved and grown into another descendant, a young man named Bayne , tortured and abused by his king father. His powers are unmatched from those who came before him. The story builds as to how the prophecies from previous novel play out.
Just like the first book, Endeavor's Run keeps the reader engaged with its fast-paced storytelling and creative story arc. Sometimes stories that jump around in time and characters can be difficult to follow, but the author has mastered the art of transition and engages the reader at every point of the story. The science mixed with the fantasy aspect is impressively intelligent and incredibly entertaining. Any and all Syfy fans will enjoy this story and I can’t wait for the rest of tale.
Profile Image for Amys Bookshelf Reviews.
871 reviews78 followers
May 30, 2022
Enjoyed this story!

What a well told story in Endeavor's run by Tobin Marks. I've read work from Marks before, and I enjoyed that story as well. Enjoy seems a simple word, but I take it to mean a lot. Humanity was destroyed, extinct to be exact. Though it was almost forever ago, it doesn't seem like that long ago, but somehow, out of the dust, life will always become life, and there is a new world of humanity. But it's not just about Earth, but the transformation of neighboring planet, Mars. It only takes one thing to affect the story and the lives of everyone, and it's quite a cast of characters, and trying to survive, and finding a safe place in the galaxy. It's an interestingly told story, and it is a greatly fast paced, and action-packed stories, with great characters, evil and survivors, as well as other races or aliens in the galaxy. It's a large galaxy, and that's only this one. This author brings the story to life. This author has a great imagination and I'm glad it's being shared with stories. It is the end of the world was we knew it, and it's trying to rebuild and renew. while honoring "legends" from before the world died. The story brings the reader on a superb journey. The characterizations are engrossing and dynamic. Who could ask for more when it's filled with aliens, new-humans and other interesting creatures? I will definitely add more of this author's books to my bookshelf. Endeavor's run is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review.
Profile Image for Yonay Almeida Ramos.
87 reviews3 followers
November 1, 2022
This is the second book I have read by this author and I liked it more than the first.

This book is also the first in a literary saga.

This story is the continuation of the events that occurred in The Magellan II Chronicles saga.

This story is full of references to the previous saga.

The story and world building have been masterful, the author has trapped me in his world.

The combination of elements has been incredible, as it has combined aspects of the real world, with science fiction and touches of fantasy, it has been impeccable.

The characters have been very charismatic, the author's way of narrating magnificent and the world on which the story is based majestic.

As for the edition of the book, I found it very good and above all comfortable to read.

It has been incredible to reread a work by this author so quickly, I have loved the experience, without a doubt I highly recommend it, very good work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for troublingtrash.
253 reviews1 follower
March 29, 2022
Endeavor's Run is a great addition to the science fiction community! It combines themes of space travel and fantasy dragons! After reading Ark of the Apocalypse (another novel of the author), it is clear that this particular sequel does in fact have some parallels and now that I've read this book I can understand certain concepts in it's prequel.

You don't have to read Ark of the Apocalypse to read this, they are technically a part of two different series, but I would recommend reading it after this one, just to add some context to the universe the author has created. It is extremely vast. As this book is the first in a series I believe more will be explained in the coming novels, there are some things that are left open ended and don't make much sense immediately, but it doesn't make the reading experience any less fun.
Profile Image for Eddie.
481 reviews25 followers
June 4, 2023
Endeavors Run

Tobin has a knack with his words, automatically your mind acts like a director and the visuality of his scenes come to life in your mind beginning the epic saga cinema.

It continues from his last book( Ark of Apocalypse)with a bit of a Time jump.

The prophecy unveils!

Underwater watchers are still watching.

The watchers will also be watched!

The dragons (now) are circling the mountain!

Yes I said DRAGONS!!

The new character’s are great, funny and professional to there task,

Thousand-year-old Drone communications.

The Endeavor (Ship) Captained by Richard Jennings!!
Longest deep-space ( Reminded me of the Space:1999 show) journey to find a strange, new world!

Can’t wait there the next installment

I was given this by the author for an honest review.

I give this 4.5 🌟’s
9 reviews1 follower
March 20, 2023
I've never been great at making predictions. Nothing I could have foreseen would have been as good. Even yet, I was accurate in suggesting that it wouldn't be like strolling through a field of flowers in the sunshine, even if I came very near on a few things.

Such a book is simply impossible to exist.

Almost a thousand years ago, radiation wreaked havoc on the planet and claimed billions of lives. There were a little more than a million humans left on Earth. A new world without sociopolitical conflict, chaos, or anarchy—including religion—was created as a result of this catastrophe. The Enclave Age was the name given to this era. More spacecraft, aliens, dragons, and a new world that looks to be wet—the planet aqueous—are now seen. An ark spacecraft is sent to investigate and properly decode a message from the past that has recently come to light. Sadly, the ship never made it back.

Everything in the writing was excellent. That was gorgeous, descriptive, and great. The plot could not have been more intriguing or wonderful, and the characters could not have been more charming.

In all honesty, the proper term is not love. It was an excellent book. There isn't a better way, in my opinion, to wrap up a trilogy of this nature. The ideal blend of bittersweetness and sweetness, suffering and recovery. Compared to the first novel, this one was much harsher. Far more complex and difficult to read, in my opinion. I occasionally had to put the book down for a minute and take a deep breath because I needed to take a break and gather my thoughts before continuing with a certain section.

Although the conclusion did not disappoint me, I am sad that it is the end. I experienced emotional exhaustion and a sense of loss as a result of it. I'm not sure if the intensity of it all has left me exhausted or shell-shocked. In a way, I'm happy with how it turned out. I'm also a little sad and perplexed. Not because I didn't enjoy the ending, but rather because I currently feel depleted.

In the end, reading went extremely smoothly for me. My reading was error-free because I didn't notice any editing mistakes. I give Tobin Marks' Endeavors a score of 5 out of 5.
Profile Image for Nicola Scott.
9 reviews1 follower
March 26, 2023
The novel Endeavor by Tobin Marks was fantastic. This was the second novel by this excellent author that I have read. I have no doubt that I will enjoy reading additional novels by these author. Tobin Marks, a highly gifted narrator, did a fantastic job with the book. The characters stood out and had depth. The character of Alex Porter was extremely appealing to me. He was tenacious, strong, smart, and able to think clearly under pressure.

1000 years after the end of World War II, the narrative begins. Alex Porter, a little kid, must deal with the epidemic-related death of his mother. She sends him a message via astral projection shortly before she passes away, telling him to preserve humanity from further annihilation. When she passes away, an exoplanet called Aqueous receives a startling message.

When Alex reaches adulthood, he joins the starship Endeavour, which is headed for the Galaxy, as a pilot. The goal of this mission is to locate the Monarch, a missing spacecraft that vanished while being investigated for the cryptic message. Alex is also unaware of his true fate and how it relates to the mysterious disappearance of the mythical Magellan II, the first starship, which was despatched to Aqueous a year before the World War Extinction. After receiving the enigmatic communication, Magellan II existence was confirmed. The Hope Prophecy, which centers on Alex, was created by a lady who was aboard Magellan II 1000 years before Alex was born. Yet, Alex is not the only significant figure in the narrative.

I must congratulate the author for bringing together so many overlapping plotlines. The method of conveying the story was fairly intricate and planned out. Such an exciting and captivating read. I have a soft spot for sci - fi and fantasy books that combine several stories into a single, mind-blowing conclusion.

There was hardly anything to criticize or suggest the author change. My reading was error-free because I didn't notice any editing mistakes. I therefore give this book a grade of 5 out of 5.
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