Oath to a Withered Star - The Starborne Duology by Joseph Young Hardcover

Book Synopsis

Captain Aris Solene leads her loyal crew aboard the Zephira Dawn, a small but battle-hardened starship forged in conflict, betrayal, and unbreakable bonds. Though haunted by the past, Aris has built a found family of misfits who would follow her into any storm. Their loyalty is tested when a routine survey mission takes them to Velmora, a world shrouded in forbidden jungles, fractured ruins, and corrupt data.

What begins as an ordinary landing quickly unravels into something far more dangerous. Velmora is alive. Buried within its roots lies a power the corrupt Olyssian Accord is desperate to control, a secret that could tip the balance of power across the galaxy. To claim it, the Accord will burn entire worlds and shatter anyone who stands in their way.

But Velmora is only the beginning.

A second planet, volatile and volcanic, holds deeper truths and even greater threats. As Aris and her crew push further into the unknown, they uncover a myth older than the stars themselves, a story that could either unite the galaxy or fracture it forever. Empires rise, alliances crumble, and enemies close in, determined to seize what lies hidden in the dark.

Amid cosmic warfare and ancient mysteries, Aris must keep her fragile crew together. Trust is tested. Secrets come to light. Old wounds resurface. Choices carry devastating weight. And as the galaxy threatens to unravel, passion ignites. What begins with quiet longing soon erupts into a volcanic storm of desire, pulling multiple lovers into an intimate orbit where loyalty, love, and betrayal blur.

Not all voices play by the rules. Among the crew is a presence that bends expectations, a character who refuses to be confined by the page and offers readers a perspective unlike any other. Their existence is both a mystery and a key to understanding the deeper forces at work.

Oath to a Withered Star is the first installment in the Starborne Duology, a sweeping space opera where myth collides with science, desire burns as fiercely as battle, and loyalty becomes the strongest weapon of all. It is a story of courage, sacrifice, betrayal, and passion set against a backdrop of galactic intrigue.

Fans of The Expanse, Dune, and Mass Effect will feel at home in its expansive worlds, but this novel also speaks to readers who crave the emotional complexity of multi-lover romances, explosive connections, and relationships tested by war. With vivid battles, haunting mysteries, and characters who challenge even the boundaries of storytelling itself, this is science fiction that is as daring as it is heartfelt.

Readers will encounter space travel, ancient technology, corrupt empires, dangerous planets, fierce romance, and secrets hidden in the roots of worlds. They will also find humor, tenderness, and resilience as the Zephira Dawn crew clings to one another through trials that span both the stars and the soul.

Prepare to voyage beyond the edge of known space. The crew of the Zephira Dawn has made their oath, and the galaxy will demand the cost.

Review Quotes

"Epic, emotional, and brimming with cosmic intrigue, Oath to a Withered Star launches a space romantasy where ancient myths collide with galactic warfare-perfect for fans of Mass Effect and This Is How You Lose the Time War craving high stakes and heartfelt bonds." - NewInBooks.com