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Writer's pictureCarey PW
Nov 4, 20226 min read

Blog Tour and Book Review: The Sunrisers by Robyn Singer

4 Stars




Genre: Lesbian space opera



After years of adventures, professional thief and amateur noodle critic Yael is invited to join The Order of the Banshee, a collection of the greatest female thieves in the universe, despite being decades younger than any of them. Yael’s childhood best friend, Molina, has lived the opposite life: a stern and serious member of The Sunrisers, the universe’s premiere peacekeeping organization, she’s just been promoted to Captain, serving under her father. Her first assignment of her new command: Bring down The Order of the Banshee. Yael and Molina now find themselves on opposite sides of a conflict neither of them will escape unscathed. The love they have for each other is the same as when they were young, but either their personal values or their love will break. In this game of cat and mouse, both women must use all their wits and tricks to stay ahead of their new enemy. Will order triumph, or will chaos? No matter what, Yael and Molina will both lose.


Excerpt



Outside the cave, ground troops were being deployed, the sound of their combat boots stomping on the moon’s surface echoing. And inside the cave, eleven of the smartest and most dangerous women in the universe were staring daggers straight into my eyes.


“I knew we couldn’t trust a whippersnapper,” Athena York said.


“How very disappointing,” Beatriz Nunez snarled.


“I have a granddaughter in the Sunrisers,” Lilith hummed. “If you tipped her off, I’ll at least respect you for going for the heart.”


I shook my head and swung my arms around, sweating from every pore. “I swear I didn’t call them. This is all just a big misunderstanding. You have my complete loyalty.”


Madame N’gwa cocked her head to the side and grinned. “You wanted to be a Sunriser when you were even more of a baby than you are now. Perhaps you made a deal to make your dream finally come true.”


A shocking pain surrounded my heart. Those Sunriser bastards had stolen all the trust I’d earned from my idols through years of deceit. Whichever captain was in charge of this operation was going to pay.


Lioness stepped forward, crushing her glass in her hand and sending small shards flying all over the place. “Thank you for sharing your story with me. But I don’t think we’ll be hearing anymore of them. Rather, I don’t think you’ll be living any more of them.”



Author Biography


Robyn Singer is a lifelong New Yorker, and since she was a kid playing with her action figures, all she’s wanted to do is tell stories. She went to SUNY Purchase to get a degree in Playwriting & Screenwriting with a minor in Film and has produced several comic books, but she’s always had her eye on becoming a published novelist.

As an Autistic, bisexual trans woman, diversity and inclusion in stories are vitally important to her, and she seeks to represent as many groups as possible in her work. While she wants to show characters of marginalized groups experiencing joy, she also draws inspiration from real-world problems, which bother her.

The Sunrisers (Cinnabar Moth Publishing, November 2022) is her debut novel. She writes novels and short stories of all genres and for all ages, and she continues to produce comic books. Her ongoing series, Final Gamble, will begin publication by Band of Bards in 2022.


Follow her on twitter: https://twitter.com/EmmaLSinger


Robyn Singer will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner during the tour. Your chances for winning increase the more you comment! You may enter the drawing below:


My Review: 4 Stars


This novel had some interesting elements to it, for sure. There was some world building in a space setting with tropes, such as good vs. evil and forbidden love. I liked that the author throws readers into the plot early without a great deal of backstory. The author weaves in information around the world and the characters throughout the narrative. It also features two protagonists who are neurodivergent and very strong characters. One is a leader in the coveted Sunrisers organization while the other is a talented thief who is cunning but also careless at times. While the Sunrisers are depicted as highly moral, the author shows that there are many flaws in the group. By the end, we aren’t so sure about who is good and who is evil. That aspect reminds me of the tales of King Arthur and his knights because they could never live up to the moral code that they set for themselves.


Yael annoyed me a great deal, but it wasn’t because she was a bad character. In fact, I would say that my frustration and dislike for her made her realistic. Also, I interpreted it as part of her character’s development throughout the novel. Her overconfidence and unempathetic behaviors clash well with Molina, her old friend, love interest and foil character. My exasperation with Yael matched Molina’s well. It made sense that Yael’s free spirit would attract someone who is more reserved like Molina. They were both leaders in different ways.


Likewise, Kaybel added value to the plot. The fight scene with her was unexpected, and it definitely made me see her as a villain, which I like villains. If anything, I would say she should have been further developed in the novel. However, I didn’t enjoy her snootiness about the lower classes. I think Molina picked up on those attitudes, causing her to naturally gravitate back toward Yael when they reunite. And despite Kaybel's efforts, Molina never revealed any embodiment of the noble lifestyle she was experiencing. Although she is devoted to her work, she doesn't exactly fit in.


For writing, there were some awkwardly worded passages, and the author could have provided more variety in word choice. I like the dual narrator style. I have used it in several novels myself.


There’s romance, adventure, fighting and betrayal in this science fiction novel that are sure to provide some good entertainment.


I received a free review copy. This review is completely voluntarily. Thanks to GoddessFish Promotions and the author for providing the opportunity to review this novel and for supporting authors.


Interview with Robyn Singer


What do you want your readers to know about you?

I want my readers to know that I’m an Autistic, Jewish, trans, lesbian, and I’m proud of every aspect of my identity. Not one part of it isn’t currently under attack by my country’s government, but that isn’t going to make me pretend this isn’t who I am, no matter what they throw at me. I hope I can count on anyone who reads this book and isn’t a part of these groups to stand as an

ally.


What’s something you would like your readers to take away from this book?

Neurodivergent people are awesome. A simple message, and one of several, alongside the importance of found family and to never give space to bigots under the guise of “listening to opinions” and more, but it’s true. Being neurodivergent doesn’t make people lesser. It makes us more. It makes us who we are, and we don’t want your pity, or to be changed.


What is the most enjoyable part of writing for you?

The most enjoyable part of writing for me is having my characters bounce off each other. I feel like creating strong characters and dialogue are my biggest strengths as a writer, and when I get to put a bunch of vastly different characters in a room and have them bounce off each other, it’s the most fun thing in the world.


What inspires you in life?

The future. Without giving too many details, I have a very clear vision of what I want my future to look like, and everything I do is in the hopes of attaining that future.


How do you define success as a writer?

I’ll feel like a success as a writer either when I’m making a living wage off my writing, or when I see someone cosplaying one of my characters. Whatever comes first.


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