Sean Robins – The Writer's Grab-Bag

Sci-Fi in the so High Sky

In terms of catchy headings/titles, a little alliteration or rhyming words can work well. Sometimes they bomb, big time, and sometimes they result in head-scratching or “huh?”. This one popped into my head and refused to leave, so at the top of this post it had to go.

A while ago, I promised to revisit a couple of authors . . . and I always honor pledges. Sean Robins’ latest book—The Gray Emperor: An Epic Space Opera/Parallel Universe Adventure, the seventh in the series—has been garnering great reviews.

★★★★★ “I have to say the ability for this author to tell a story has got me hooked. I fell in love with all the characters and it became a goal to find out what happened.”
★★★★★ “I loved this! I highly recommend this to any fan of pop culture, especially Star Trek fans!”
★★★★★ “This book was a Godsend as I was struggling to find a book to engage me. Sean Robins got it right with this book and I’m super excited for more.”
★★★★★ “Plot and characters are well developed and filled with real emotion. Pleasantly surprising twists!”
★★★★★ “I found myself becoming involved with the characters and caring for them and their struggles.”
★★★★★ “I loved this book! Great story, great characters, awesome movie references and humor.”
★★★★★ “This author is very talented, grabbed and held my interest.”

My own one-sentence review: A quirky and fun read with engaging characters and thrilling sky-high battle scenes.

For those not in the know, in The Gray Emperor, ever staunch General Maada leads his fleet to the White Republic universe, where the Xenoakakies rule with an iron fist. There, he encounters a few old friends, as well as some new foes, including the Death Angel, the legendary enemy pilot who’s killed the general’s doppelganger.

While Maada has been through his fair share of dangerous and/or doomed battles, this one takes him into an entirely different realm. The resolute insects’ hold on this universe seems unshakable, and their fleet dwarfs the general’s in vast numbers and power. But Maada is indomitable and will fight, whatever the cost.

Maada, flying the Crimson Deathbringer off the ground and towards the approaching enemy fleet, checked his tactical display. Forty-six thousand space fighters from seven different species were following him. He had led the forces under his command into battle countless times, but this was the first time he was in command of an allied force fighting an aggressor with the entire galaxy’s survival at stake. That thought filled his chest with fierce pride.

He had been in this position before, fighting first the Volts, then Father, and later the White Republic’s navy to save billions, but on both those occasions Jim had been in command. This, however, was his fleet, and it would be his victory.

Along for the electrifying ride: Jim Harrison the protagonist and narrator for all the books in the series, Tarq the jokester, and Xornaa the femme fatale mercenary and Xortaag spy.

For those not familiar with Sean, he’s a huge fan of Marvel, Game of Thrones, Star Wars, and Star Trek. He’s also a university/college level English teacher who has lived and worked in different countries. To find out more, please check out Sean and his new book at:

https://www.amazon.com/Sean-Robins/e/B07PS1116K%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/18999889.Sean_Robins

https://www.audible.ca/search?searchAuthor=Sean+Robins

https://www.facebook.com/seanrobins300/

https://seanrobins73.wixsite.com/website

Two New

Two of my favorite fellow authors have books coming out soon. Having had the pleasure of reading both, I can honestly say neither disappoint. It’s a bit too early to provide reviews, but there’s nothing wrong with plugs. 😉

Sean Robins’ The Gray Emperor is Book Seven in The Crimson Deathbringer series. If you’ve read the sci-fi books, you know they’re chockablock full of action (great intergalactic space battles, fanatical alien species) and humor (danger abounds, so do the drollness and farce). Jim, the protagonist, and his buddies are back and along for the thrilling ride—the beautiful warrior Xornaa, the prankster “insect” Tarq, the solemn unbeaten General Maada. . . . Or are they? Perhaps they’re doppelgangers?

Jina S. Bazzar’s Shadow Pawn is a future-set murder mystery with a fantasy component. It revolves around an intriguing protagonist with an equally intriguing history. Page one yanks you in, as a good book should. The storyline, action and descriptions, have you wanting to continue reading. There’s a dark element, which adds to the thrills/excitement. And who doesn’t love a resilient headstrong heroine who never backs down?

Simple fact: Sean and Jina are exceptionally talented authors whose stories always entertain. This blog will feature reviews of The Gray Emperor and Shadow Pawn in the next month or so. Meanwhile, you can find Sean and Jina on various sites (just do that Googling thing); I heartily recommend you check them out.

https://www.amazon.com/Jina-S.-Bazzar/e/B07B2989VT%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

https://www.amazon.com/Sean-Robins/e/B07PS1116K%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Spreading the Word . . .

. . . on behalf of Sean Robins, author of The Scarlet Queen, The Golden Viper, and The White Republic (some of the quirky [fun/exciting] books in the sci-fi The Crimson Deathbringer series).

Jim Harrison is the main protagonist, a fighting hero with an ego and alter-ego named Venom. He has a trustworthy best friend, Kurt, who helps him win battles. And there is a great array of secondary characters, such as dogged and determined (win at all costs) General Maada, prank-dense and maybe dangerous (but you can never truly be sure) Tarq, and beautiful femme-fatale mercenary and spy, Xornaa.

So, per Sean’s request, I’m helping spread the word: the box set continues to be a bestseller! How awesome is that? If you haven’t yet checked out his books, I highly recommend you do; each one is an entertaining (easy-to-get-hooked) read.

A little about Sean: he’s a university/college-level English teacher and huge Marvel (plus Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, and Stargate) fan, as is evident in his stories (they’re full of pop-culture references).

Check him out on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/sean.robins.77, and Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/Sean-Robins/e/B07PS1116K%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share, among others.

Sean Robins does not Disappoint with The White Republic

Another quick plug—this one for Sean Robins. I had the pleasure of editing the sixth book in The Crimson Deathbringer series and The White Republic: An Epic Space Opera/Alien Adventure does not disappoint. It’s as enjoyable a read as the previous (great title, too).

If you’ve been following, you know about the brilliant battles and enemy invasions and the fun cast of characters, including: Jim (the hero), Kurt (his friend, and the President), Xornaa (a stunning warrior), Tarq (the four-legged prankster), Maada (the enemy-turned-ally General).

This time the question is: what happens if the technologically superior Akakies develop into the villainous Klingons in a parallel universe?

The ship itself was built before the widespread use of SAM had changed the Akakies into a warrior race, but they had recently added layers upon layers of offensive and defensive weaponry to her hull, turning her into a lethal killing machine that could destroy an entire planet with ease. With a few thousand escort space fighters, she could stand against the entire enemy force and prevail.

When the White Republic’s navy decimates the Federation’s forces in a surprise attack, Jim and his friends must unite once more to expel the invaders and liberate their worlds. Unfortunately, they have only a few thousand ships left and, to make matters worse, they’re under a tight deadline—with time rapidly running out.

How will they accomplish this incredible feat? You’ll have to read The White Republic to find out. You can find it and the other books in the series here:

https://www.amazon.ca/Sean-Robins/e/B07PS1116K%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

And to learn what makes Sean tick, check him out on Goodreads, BookBob, Twitter (@seanrobins300) and/or Facebook (facebook.com/seanrobins300).

Review: The Scarlet Queen by Sean Robins

It’s time for another Sean Robins review. Our prolific writer has penned another book, The Scarlet Queen, the prequel to the well-received The Crimson Deathbringer series. This time, we follow beautiful Xornaa, a “femme fatale mercenary”—and Xortaag spy—who becomes involved in time traveling with the intriguing if not unique Klatzo, creator of the time machine. In addition to (expected and desired) engaging battles, there are more life-saving episodes (but no spoiler alerts as to outcomes).

There are references to characters from the series (like Tarq the impassioned prankster and Maada the dogged general), which bring back welcome memories of those other exhilarating stories and danger-fraught and oft crazy adventures.

Here’s a little taste:

Up until then, I still had a faint hope that we could make it to the jump point, but it evaporated with the arrival of the new enemy ships. I closed my eyes, let out a long low sigh, and covered my face in defeat. The thought that everything I’d done, including inventing a freaking time machine, had been for naught stabbed at my heart.

I clenched my fist so tightly that my hands started shaking as a vein began to pulse in my forehead. Then I heard my doppelgangers shouting in excitement. I looked at my tactical display and, in sheer astonishment, realized the new ships were shooting at their own space fighters.

I blinked and checked my tactical display again to make sure my eyes weren’t deceiving me. Nope. It was real.

Two of the pursuing space fighters were hit before their pilots realized what was happening. The other two broke and flew in opposite directions, but each had three vessels on their six, and I was certain even their pilots knew they were doomed. They threw their space fighters up and down, left and right, and tried to avoid the incoming fire, but they joined their dead comrades in less than two minutes.

What the hell is going on?!

What the hell indeed? You’ll just have to read The Scarlet Queen to discover what happens!

For those not yet familiar with Sean, he’s a huge fan of Marvel, Game of Thrones, Star Wars, and Star Trek. He’s also a university/college level English teacher who has lived and worked in different countries. To find out more, please check out Sean and his new book out at:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Scarlet-Queen-Adventure-Crimson-Deathbringer-ebook/dp/B091FMTSX4/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+scarlet+queen&qid=1625919260&s=books&sr=1-1

Twitter: @seanrobins300

Facebook: facebook.com/seanrobins300

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18999889.Sean_Robins

Rating:

Review: The Silver Timeship by Sean Robins (The Crimson Deathbringer Series Book 4)

Sean Robin’s heroes and principals are back—Jim, Kurt, Xorgaana, Maada, Tarq—to save the universe before it’s too late! Can they <shiver, shudder, gasp> do it?

They can if Jim, the ego-heavy protagonist, has anything to say about it—once he gets through licking his wounds, of course. Kurt, Jim’s best friend, has no qualms about assisting. Stunning, mind-reading Xornaa’s all in; so are prankster Tarq and former nemesis, General Maada. And we have a sharp-witted newcomer, the beautiful Benedita, who flies a silver timeship (thus adding an interesting dimension, in more ways than one).

For the first time in a very, very long while, Benedita allowed herself to hope. Jim, Tarq, Maada, Kurt, and Xornaa were legends (especially Maada, that man was an apex predator). Together, they’d defeated the Volts, and they would go on to overcome more sinister threats in the future. If anyone could stop the Ghost Fleet, it was them. She might be able to pull this off, after all, which meant Diogo, Bia and Belinha wouldn’t die a horrible death. Of course, without the Time Engine, she was trapped here and would never see them again, but just knowing that they’d be alive and well was enough.

An odd array of “soldiers”, they set off to set things right. En route, they encounter a sundry of curious characters, including Mother, an AI who turns out to be anything but maternal. You want to talk about a run for your money, er, life, er . . .

The fourth in the Crimson Deathbringer series, The Silver Timeship, delivers . . . action, drama (of several sorts), and the usual wackiness. There are a few nail-biting battles, where it appears that victory—and the fate of the illustrious universe—might belong to either side.

Overall, The Silver Timeship is a fun ride. You’ll not want to put down the book until you know the outcome: did they or didn’t they?

A definite 4 out of 5.

And, just so you fans are aware, coming in the not-too-distant future (but who really knows what “future” entails when time travel’s involved), is The Scarlet Queen. It’s a prequel and features a few of your favorite characters’ adventures before the Xortaag invasion of Earth. There will also be one called The White Republic, but I’ll leave you with a bit of mystery as to what that one entails.

You can find Sean Robins on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Sean-Robins) and Twitter (@seanrobins300) and Facebook (facebook.com/seanrobins300).

For those not yet familiar with Sean, he is a huge fan of Marvel, Game of Thrones, Star Wars and Star Trek. He’s also a university/college level English teacher who has lived and worked in five different countries( like Canada, eh?). He’s met people from all around the world, and his parents and wife are from different backgrounds—hence, diversity as a major theme in his novels.

Review: THE BLACK FLEET – The Crimson Deathbringer Book Three (Sean Robins)

The third book in the series, The Black Fleet, continues to satisfy. It’s not quite as complex perhaps as the previous two (The Crimson Deathbringer and The Golden Viper), but it still delivers—with brisk action, campy humor, and the crazy cast we’ve grown so fond of. They abound with zealousness (or is that insanity?). The threat this time deals with the fate of the future. Scary!

There’s protagonist Major Jim Harrison—with new wife, Ella, a career military woman—and his nemesis/alter-ego, Venom. Jim’s still an ace fighter pilot but is also the author of well-selling autobiographies; not only have they granted him a certain level of fame but have bolstered an ego that was rather big to begin with. Comrade Kurt returns, as does prankster Tarq, but the “insect” seems a little less dynamic than previously. General Maada takes a pivotal role and gives Jim a run for his money, er, space fighter, er . . . .

Sean’s characters are well crafted and alternative planets and lifeforms—like the Akakies, Volts, and Talgonians—are thoroughly detailed. It’s easy to visualize the action in all its explosive fervor. Energy and danger overflow as heroes/heroines and enemies engage in thrilling skirmishes.

I looked at Earth, visible from the front window, and admired its magnificent beauty for the thousandth time. No matter how often I saw Earth from orbit, this view always made my breath catch and my spirit lift. My planet, where all my loved ones lived, including my unborn child. In this wide universe, this was the only place I called home, which incidentally I’d helped save a couple of times, along with the rest of the galaxy.

If pride really were a deadly sin, then I was going straight to hell.

And now new baddies were coming for her. Well, guess who was standing in their way. But first, there was a minor issue I had to deal with.

“You know what, Tarq?” I said conversationally. “It’s just occurred to me you never answered for the seven hundred million humans you got killed.”

Another thrilling ride to be sure, one that leaves you longing for another. Lucky us—there’s a fourth one to come.

A definite 4 out of 5!

What about Sean Robins? As may be evident from the Crimson Deathbringer books, he’s a huge fan of Marvel, Game of Thrones, Star Wars and Star Trek. He’s a university/college-level English teacher and has lived and worked in six different countries, including Canada. Sean has met people from all around the world, which is “probably why my characters look like the bridge crew from Star Trek”.

His favorite author is Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files), which is why he ended up writing in first-person POV with the same light-hearted, funny tone. The fact that his MC’s name is Jim is purely coincidental, and has nothing to do with Captain James Kirk either.

Please check Sean out on Amazon, Goodreads, Twitter (@seanrobins300) and/or Facebook (facebook.com/seanrobins300).

Review: The Golden Viper by Sean Robins

Your favorite heroes and villains are back! In The Golden Viper, Sean Robins’ fun sci-fi sequel to The Crimson Deathbringer, the odious Xortaags return—to conquer Earth. Their ultimate plan, however, is to use advanced technology discovered on Kanoor to rule the universe. How dastardly can one alien race be!?

Major Jim Harrison (the protagonist), Venom (his alter-ego, in a manner of speaking), and Kurt (Jim’s best friend), likewise return. If you’ve read Deathbringer, you’ll be happy to hear that four-footed Akakie jokester Tarq—Jim’s “alien brother”—and egocentric General Maada (yes, that win-at-all-odds commander) are also back. Inserting a few new intriguing characters into the equation equates to an awesome follow-up.

You’ll also find those stories within stories and different POVs that worked so well in Deathbringer. How will Jim deal with a significant past loss? Will the Xortaags succeed in their heinous quest(s)? Does Tarq carry on pulling outlandish pranks? Who’s more ruthless: Maada or his conniving brothers? Are new team members to be trusted? Can Earth be saved? Will Jim et al cease/continue making eye-rolling film and television references?

When a book begins with, “The deafening Death Siren cried out like the wail of a thousand animals being slaughtered”, you know you’re in for a thrilling storybook ride. Action and excitement reign—and not just during exhilerating spaceship battles!

Is The Golden Viper as good as The Crimson Deathbringer? Judge for yourself (I promise, you won’t be disappointed).

And what of the author? In addition to being a huge fan of Marvel, Game of Thrones, Star Wars and Star Trek, Sean Robins is also a university/college level English teacher, who has lived and worked in five different countries( like Canada, eh?). He’s met people from all around the world, and his parents and wife are from different backgrounds—hence, diversity as a major theme in his novels.

Please check out Sean at:

https://seanrobins73.wixsite.com/website

https://mybook.to/goldenviper

https://thecrimsondeathbringer.home.blog

Rating:

Forever Poi Promo Post

A quick shameless self-promotion post – nothing new if you’ve seen my recent Facebook posts – but worth mentioning (again) from this humble author’s perspective.

Forever Poi, the fourth in the Triple Threat Investigation Agency series, is available for .99 through September 9th on Amazon, thanks to a New Chapter promotion. This case has private eyes JJ, Rey, and Linda solving a double-arson and murder—specifically, who torched two Oahu Chinatown art galleries and left two charred bodies in the rubble? The trio encounters a sundry of suspects, each possessing a viable motive for having done so—insurance collection, unwanted lover, dicey past, sour grapes …?

The gals would love for you to accompany them as they track leads and clues, encounter strange and suspicious persons, and become embroiled in one of their most puzzling cases yet.

On a different note, I want to extend heartfelt gratitude to those who’ve provided me with much needed [I’m so lost] and much appreciated [I’d be lost without you] support and advice. Jay, Jina, and Sean—thank you, thank you, thank you!

Review: The Crimson Deathbringer by Sean Robins

The Crimson Deathbringer is the first novel from Sean Robins—and a great debut it is. It’s chockablock full of action. You have dramatic alien-versus-human-versus alien encounters, exciting space battles, an insane race to save the world, some warm-hearted romance, and a lot of waggish humor (reminiscent of Douglas Adams). If you can get this granite face to break a smile, you’ve accomplished something major and Sean has done just that—by infusing campy fun at the right times, in the right places.

I was a Trekkie—and once a Trekkie, always a Trekkie, because I could still [effortlessly, happily] watch episode after episode after episode. That said, though, I’m not a fan of science fiction. I’d agreed to review the book, but not checked the genre, so when it arrived, it was a woe-is-me, “Tyler, what’d you get yourself into?” Then, I read the first chapter and the characters and storyline yanked me in!

Not only do you have protagonist Major Jim Harrison, an Air Force fighter pilot, relaying action through his eyes, you view it through others. It’s not simple to balance—juggle—different POVs, or stories within stories, but Sean makes it work exceptionally well.

His characters are carefully crafted and his descriptions of future Earth and alternative planets and life forms are well detailed. It’s easy to visualize all that is transpiring—from perilous shootouts and intense combat, to silly pranks and friendly banter. There is an emotional level, too—sadness when someone dies, dismay when all seems futile, and encouragement when something heartening happens.

Without giving too much away, the storyline is this: Jim Harrison and his lovely partner, Liz Lopez, are part of a troupe that intend to save United Earth from the dastardly clutches of the egocentric, win-at-all-costs General Maada. Hailing from a far-off galaxy, his goal is to make the Xortaags’ kingdom the most powerful, most feared entity in the universe. Fortunately for Jim et al, they have Tarq, who also hails from a distant star system. His objective is to save his entire species, the Akakies, via Operation KGAFUP (which we’ll leave as an acronym for the sake of a “wholesome” review). Throw in a corrupt world leader, determined Resistance members and tough Russian mafia sorts, and Bob’s your uncle (always wanted to say that). The Crimson Deathbringer will take you on an enthralling ride as it swoops through Sean Robins’ cosmos.

And just who is our budding author? A big fan of Marvel, Game of Thrones, Star Trek and Star Wars . . . and author Jim Butcher. He’s also an English teacher who has resided in various countries, including Canada; hence those Canadian references, eh.

This novel would be a five out of five, but the editor in me has to give it a 4.5 for those items that need, hmm, a wee bit of editing. Still, a stellar story. Looking [most] forward to the sequel.

Rating:

Please check Sean Robins out at:

https://thecrimsondeathbringer.home.blog

https://seanrobins73.wixsite.com/website

Amazon: Mybook.to/crimsondeath

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