Titanborn by Rhett C. Bruno
(Children of Titan, Book 1)
Released: June 21, 2016 | Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller
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Offworlders are only worth the price on their heads.
After three decades as a Pervenio Corporation Collector, chasing wanted offworlders and extinguishing protests throughout the solar system, Malcolm Graves doesn’t bother asking questions. So long as the pay is right, he’s the man for the job. But his latest assignment doesn’t afford him that luxury.
A high-profile bombing on Earth has the men who sign Malcolm’s paychecks clamoring for answers. They force him to team up with a strange, augmented partner who’s more interested in statistics than instinct, and ship them both off to Titan to hunt down a suspected group of extremists: Titanborn rebels who will go to any length to free their home from the tyranny of Earth’s corporations.
Heading into hostile territory, Malcolm will have to use everything he’s learned to stay alive. But he soon realizes the situation on the ground is much more complex than he anticipated...and much more personal.
Check out the thrilling first book in a gritty and innovative science-fiction series perfect for fans of The Expanse and Blade Runner. You can also grab in on Audible performed by the award-winning RC Bray, narrator of The Martian.
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Rhett C. Bruno started out writing fan fiction for video games, including Diablo and Mass Effect, before eventually becoming a published science-fiction novelist.
REVIEW
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ☆
Flawed for the same reason it excels.
At its core, Titanborn is an FBI-style terrorist thriller set against a sci-fi backdrop. That’s where it really shines. The story proves that science fiction doesn’t have to rely on spaceships, aliens, or heavy-handed tropes, it can be a rich setting for any type of story. Much like the best thrillers, it delivers sharp pacing, compelling characters, steady buildup, and solid execution. I flew through it and had a great time.
But here’s the catch: it falls into the same traps as the very genre it mirrors. You’ve got the estranged father struggling with family ties, the world-weary veteran paired with an eager rookie, and of course the “twist” ending you can spot chapters in advance. If you’ve read one cop thriller, you’ve probably read this one too.
That said, the sci-fi setting does elevate it. You don’t need to be a hardcore sci-fi reader to enjoy Titanborn, in fact, I’d say it’s even better suited for fans of classic FBI/cop thrillers who want a fresh spin on familiar territory.
