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Acorna #4
Acorna's World
Corgi 1st edition 2001 paperback fine In stock shipped from our UK warehouse
Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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About the author
Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
125 books211 followersElizabeth Ann Scarborough was born March 23, 1947, and lives in the Puget Sound area of Washington. Elizabeth won a Nebula Award in 1989 for her novel The Healer's War, and has written more than a dozen other novels. She has collaborated with Anne McCaffrey, best-known for creating the Dragonriders of Pern, to produce the Petaybee Series and the Acorna Series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 4, 2023
I've already explained in my reviews of the earlier books in this series about my history with this series, Anne McCaffrey, and why I liked the character of RK. If you're wondering about that, go check those previous posts.
What I will say is that, although good, this wasn't as exciting as it could have been. I was expecting more spacefaring action than I got here. Still, the writing and action was as crisp as ever.
What I will say is that, although good, this wasn't as exciting as it could have been. I was expecting more spacefaring action than I got here. Still, the writing and action was as crisp as ever.
September 25, 2023
I can't believe it! I finally finished reading an actual hardback book. Of course, it's Anne McCaffrey. I started it on February 13, 2020, and finished two days ago. I have tracking issues and find paper books hard to follow. I have always had this problem, but since my 60s, it has been far harder. I'm thankful to be alive when we have Kindle Text-to-Speech or Audible. And anyone who knows me, I am addicted to reading. I was the girl who had to check out 10 (the limit) books every time I went to the library. And the library and bookstores are still my favorite places. But if I take it slow, I can get through a book.
This is book 4 of the Acorna series. I love most of the characters. RK the cat is the best. I am most disappointed that the series dedicated to the Unicorn Girl seems to be far less of her than everyone else. I would love more about Granddam. But maybe as the series continues, I will find more of what I want from the Unicorn people.
I have been fortunate to have most of Anne McCaffrey's books in the first edition. This one was not, neither are the next couple. But I will buy the hardbacks to keep reading "real" books. Meanwhile, I did pick up the Kindle version from Libby. With a trip coming up, I have to save my pennies. But next month, I will buy hardback #5.
By the way, I think Anne McCaffrey's writing doesn't age. It is so current, no matter what is going on here. Try them!
This is book 4 of the Acorna series. I love most of the characters. RK the cat is the best. I am most disappointed that the series dedicated to the Unicorn Girl seems to be far less of her than everyone else. I would love more about Granddam. But maybe as the series continues, I will find more of what I want from the Unicorn people.
I have been fortunate to have most of Anne McCaffrey's books in the first edition. This one was not, neither are the next couple. But I will buy the hardbacks to keep reading "real" books. Meanwhile, I did pick up the Kindle version from Libby. With a trip coming up, I have to save my pennies. But next month, I will buy hardback #5.
By the way, I think Anne McCaffrey's writing doesn't age. It is so current, no matter what is going on here. Try them!
March 5, 2016
This was the last book in the series that I read back in the day (I think I was sixteen, since I'm pretty sure the next book was already out). Impressionable as I was, I still hadn't cottoned to the glaring flaws in the series. However, I remember deciding that I liked this as an ending, and that I was perfectly happy not reading anymore. This may have also been when I got really sucked into the Discworld, but I digress.
As others have said, Acorna's World is standard fare for the series. More culture clashing between Linyaari and basically anyone they want to be snooty at, Acorna continues her life in a satisfyingly direct way that links well with the end of the last book, the Khleevi make you wish they'd just piss off already, and supporting characters do their thing much as they always have.
It could almost be comfort food if it weren't for the aforementioned glaring flaws.
Chief among them is the style of writing. It's rather like trying to read an entire wikia in one sitting. Some things do need to be told, but show don't tell is a good piece of advice. Acorna books tend to report things. This doesn't always cut off the emotional impact, but it does make some moments mawkish and over the top.
EXCEPTION: Of course, your mileage may vary.
The characters are not that deep, although usually likeable, unless you aren't supposed to like them. I love when a new "You Don't Like Me" character appears in Acorna. They are of the moustache-twirling variety, but the great ones tend to be psychotic. It's a rather realistic portrayal of psychosis, but against the backdrop of... well, the series... I find them funny in a black humour way. Someone will be offended, if not by the characters, then by my finding them funny.
As I've been re-reading the series, I've rated them pretty low overall, but now that I've hit this one, the last one I have already read, I have fallen into something of a groove. This could also be a better book than the rest. I just didn't find it as irritating to be told everything, suffer maudlin scenes of informed emotion, and rail at characters for all sharing all the same dang opinions.
I'm ready to read the rest now.
ETA: Okay, something I really hated was the Sherlock Holmes thing at the beginning. I can maybe forgive the deerstalker. But the play on "Elementary, my dear Watson"? No. Aari is explicitly stated to be reading "a trashed-out copy of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." Not even The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, which contains The Adventure of the Crooked Man. He would have had to have been watching The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1929) and would still be dropping the "elementary" at the end.
I know all this and I'm not even a fan of Sherlock Holmes. I only like the guy.
As others have said, Acorna's World is standard fare for the series. More culture clashing between Linyaari and basically anyone they want to be snooty at, Acorna continues her life in a satisfyingly direct way that links well with the end of the last book, the Khleevi make you wish they'd just piss off already, and supporting characters do their thing much as they always have.
It could almost be comfort food if it weren't for the aforementioned glaring flaws.
Chief among them is the style of writing. It's rather like trying to read an entire wikia in one sitting. Some things do need to be told, but show don't tell is a good piece of advice. Acorna books tend to report things. This doesn't always cut off the emotional impact, but it does make some moments mawkish and over the top.
EXCEPTION: Of course, your mileage may vary.
The characters are not that deep, although usually likeable, unless you aren't supposed to like them. I love when a new "You Don't Like Me" character appears in Acorna. They are of the moustache-twirling variety, but the great ones tend to be psychotic. It's a rather realistic portrayal of psychosis, but against the backdrop of... well, the series... I find them funny in a black humour way. Someone will be offended, if not by the characters, then by my finding them funny.
As I've been re-reading the series, I've rated them pretty low overall, but now that I've hit this one, the last one I have already read, I have fallen into something of a groove. This could also be a better book than the rest. I just didn't find it as irritating to be told everything, suffer maudlin scenes of informed emotion, and rail at characters for all sharing all the same dang opinions.
I'm ready to read the rest now.
ETA: Okay, something I really hated was the Sherlock Holmes thing at the beginning. I can maybe forgive the deerstalker. But the play on "Elementary, my dear Watson"? No. Aari is explicitly stated to be reading "a trashed-out copy of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." Not even The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, which contains The Adventure of the Crooked Man. He would have had to have been watching The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1929) and would still be dropping the "elementary" at the end.
I know all this and I'm not even a fan of Sherlock Holmes. I only like the guy.
March 11, 2023
Acorna's Adventures in Space - Part II
We pick up this book following our intrepid unicorn heroine and her new friends / crew as they have adventures. There are aliens, space battles, sentient plants and a super evil villain defeated with good triumphing over all.
As with the rest of the series this little summary makes the adventure sound more exciting than the book actually is. A lot of the space battles are off the page and character development is thin - at best. But, given the book reads pretty young, and probably has a younger audience in mind, there is a charm here to the writing which I continue to enjoy.
This is a pleasant passive read where some of the plot doesn't survive scrutiny and there is some real odd choices in the POC characters which continue. The ridiculous clichés that our Arab-coded Muslim characters use and the horse metaphors all got a bid old and a bit flat. However, these are more ridiculous than offensive and I chuckled at a few - so I gave it a pass.
The book falters - as always - when the scope of the plot goes galaxy wide. The authors have a harder time focusing all the plot there here and things get wrapped up too quickly.
Of course, let's be honest - the real draw of this series is that Acorna gets her lifemate and so does Becker. Because, of course, everyone must pair off - it is a universal rule of something in this series. 🤷♀️🤷♀️ I didn't mind per se - as the love life shenanigan's are better written than the space battles. Take that for what it is.
3 borderline stars - this became more fun when the humans came back which was a shame as the author seems to have lost the plot a bit with our titular lady. I could have as easily been convinced to give this a 2 stars but the book does charm me overall while I read. There is something here that works.
We pick up this book following our intrepid unicorn heroine and her new friends / crew as they have adventures. There are aliens, space battles, sentient plants and a super evil villain defeated with good triumphing over all.
As with the rest of the series this little summary makes the adventure sound more exciting than the book actually is. A lot of the space battles are off the page and character development is thin - at best. But, given the book reads pretty young, and probably has a younger audience in mind, there is a charm here to the writing which I continue to enjoy.
This is a pleasant passive read where some of the plot doesn't survive scrutiny and there is some real odd choices in the POC characters which continue. The ridiculous clichés that our Arab-coded Muslim characters use and the horse metaphors all got a bid old and a bit flat. However, these are more ridiculous than offensive and I chuckled at a few - so I gave it a pass.
The book falters - as always - when the scope of the plot goes galaxy wide. The authors have a harder time focusing all the plot there here and things get wrapped up too quickly.
Of course, let's be honest - the real draw of this series is that Acorna gets her lifemate and so does Becker. Because, of course, everyone must pair off - it is a universal rule of something in this series. 🤷♀️🤷♀️ I didn't mind per se - as the love life shenanigan's are better written than the space battles. Take that for what it is.
3 borderline stars - this became more fun when the humans came back which was a shame as the author seems to have lost the plot a bit with our titular lady. I could have as easily been convinced to give this a 2 stars but the book does charm me overall while I read. There is something here that works.
January 13, 2021
I'm glad Acorna found a lifemate. Using the vines against the bugs is inspired.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2009
A pretty standard Anne McCaffrey story, actually the bugs as villans appear elsewhere in her series. Readable tho.
The fourth book in the Acorna series some of the backstory is filled in within the first chapter so you don't really have to have read the rest. Acorna is a very beautiful half-unicorn half-humanoid being who was brought up by some humans and thinks she's the only one until she finds more of her kind. She has to work out a way of fitting into society.
In this one she goes in search of a new home and when they hear a distress call they find a world that's lush, when they're attacked by the insectile Khleevi, when searching for a refuge they make a Khleevi ship crash and when chasing them they accidentally discover a way to fight them. They race against time to produce the solution before the Khleevi decimate as many races as they can reach.
I wasn't incredibly impressed but it is quite readable.
The fourth book in the Acorna series some of the backstory is filled in within the first chapter so you don't really have to have read the rest. Acorna is a very beautiful half-unicorn half-humanoid being who was brought up by some humans and thinks she's the only one until she finds more of her kind. She has to work out a way of fitting into society.
In this one she goes in search of a new home and when they hear a distress call they find a world that's lush, when they're attacked by the insectile Khleevi, when searching for a refuge they make a Khleevi ship crash and when chasing them they accidentally discover a way to fight them. They race against time to produce the solution before the Khleevi decimate as many races as they can reach.
I wasn't incredibly impressed but it is quite readable.
August 20, 2021
This latest book in the Acorna series has Acorna and her many friends fighting battles for survival against the Khlevii host.
It's only when they follow a Mayday call onto a strange planet, where they discover that the wonderfully scented plants are not only sentient, but have an amazingly clever protection against bugs - which, after all, are what the Khlevii are - that they can at last find hope in defeating this perniciously deadly foe.
Once again Anne does what she does best with this book, by drawing the reader into caring very much how her characters survive - or not - and thrive. Her writing makes me want to root for them all, laugh at their fun times, and cry at their losses and, to me, that's what has me coming back time after time to her books.
I think, best of all, is that she doesn't sugarcoat the bad times. She shows how brutal life can be, and how hard it is to recover from the bad stuff that happens throughout life - but then she leavens that with the wonderful community of friendship and family that her characters feel for each other, no matter the species!
I'm just glad that the Acorna series is as prolific as it is, as I'm still thoroughly enjoying it. I go on now to the next book in the series: Acorna's Search.
It's only when they follow a Mayday call onto a strange planet, where they discover that the wonderfully scented plants are not only sentient, but have an amazingly clever protection against bugs - which, after all, are what the Khlevii are - that they can at last find hope in defeating this perniciously deadly foe.
Once again Anne does what she does best with this book, by drawing the reader into caring very much how her characters survive - or not - and thrive. Her writing makes me want to root for them all, laugh at their fun times, and cry at their losses and, to me, that's what has me coming back time after time to her books.
I think, best of all, is that she doesn't sugarcoat the bad times. She shows how brutal life can be, and how hard it is to recover from the bad stuff that happens throughout life - but then she leavens that with the wonderful community of friendship and family that her characters feel for each other, no matter the species!
I'm just glad that the Acorna series is as prolific as it is, as I'm still thoroughly enjoying it. I go on now to the next book in the series: Acorna's Search.
July 28, 2024
I want to give this 3 1/2 stars. I enjoyed it, but it is pretty much the same stuff as in the previous book in this series, "Acorna's People".
WARNING: This is NOT a story for little kids... mid-teens, maybe. Normally a story about unicorns would be for little kids, but it's not. Children are in danger. So are unicorns. The only redeeming thing about the violence is that the bad guys are in danger as well. Danger all around.
The Khleevi are back. They actually never left, but they are actively back in the storyline. The Khleevi is an evil insect race that enjoys torturing living beings into abject terror for as long as possible until they die. At last we find out why.
See what I mean? Danger.
Any problems with this story? Nothing I haven't already mentioned before.
Any modesty issues? The S-word is used. I'm not sure if two unicorns waking up in bed together constitutes a lack of modesty, but probably. Nothing happened though.
As I recall this is my second reading of this book. I wouldn't mind reading it again in the future.
WARNING: This is NOT a story for little kids... mid-teens, maybe. Normally a story about unicorns would be for little kids, but it's not. Children are in danger. So are unicorns. The only redeeming thing about the violence is that the bad guys are in danger as well. Danger all around.
The Khleevi are back. They actually never left, but they are actively back in the storyline. The Khleevi is an evil insect race that enjoys torturing living beings into abject terror for as long as possible until they die. At last we find out why.
See what I mean? Danger.
Any problems with this story? Nothing I haven't already mentioned before.
Any modesty issues? The S-word is used. I'm not sure if two unicorns waking up in bed together constitutes a lack of modesty, but probably. Nothing happened though.
As I recall this is my second reading of this book. I wouldn't mind reading it again in the future.
August 5, 2021
The one thing I can't get over is how in the original book Acorna, and presumably the rest of the Linyaari, didn't cry. Their eyes widened when they were upset or sad. But now they cry literally all of the time. It bugs the crap out of me.
Anyway, this book is ridiculous but not quite ridiculous enough to be good. It's full of references to "antique" earth culture which is lazily explained away. The hologram bit with Acorna and Aari was almost hilarious but instead just bizarre. There's like two whole chapters in a row just about how Acorna and Aari are in love but won't acknowledge it. They establish communication with plants in one page.
I am happy Acorna and Aari are together. I'm also happy Becker and Nadhari are together. There was a lot of stuff that I wanted to like but just had a very hard time getting into.
Anyway, this book is ridiculous but not quite ridiculous enough to be good. It's full of references to "antique" earth culture which is lazily explained away. The hologram bit with Acorna and Aari was almost hilarious but instead just bizarre. There's like two whole chapters in a row just about how Acorna and Aari are in love but won't acknowledge it. They establish communication with plants in one page.
I am happy Acorna and Aari are together. I'm also happy Becker and Nadhari are together. There was a lot of stuff that I wanted to like but just had a very hard time getting into.
May 26, 2022
Probably my favourite book of the series so far - maybe because the dastardly bugs are back and we find out more about them and why they swarm as they do. We also find out that not all Acorna's people are filled with sweetness and light - there's a bit of a twisted, jealous streak in some of them. The whole sap/vine thing was a bit too fortuitous for me to really get behind it, but it kind of worked in the context of the story, even if it meant a rather tragic, gory end for the bugs that got caught in it.
Overall, a good, entertaining read, with plenty of action, lots of humour and even a bit of rumpy-pumpy for the unicorn girl!
Overall, a good, entertaining read, with plenty of action, lots of humour and even a bit of rumpy-pumpy for the unicorn girl!
September 7, 2017
McCaffrey did a great job when she switched co authors to Scarborough. Even though it's caused some discrepancies, it's better writing. The characters are not as perfect-everything-works-flawlessly and that adds dimension. (Fav character is still Karina, the pseudopsychic who's sometimes actually psychic)
Even my gripe with the Kleevi is somewhat addressed- enemies aren't interesting if they are simply 'bad' with no depth or explanation.
It's not a must read, but I'd start the series at this book or the previous one and skip the 1st 2 or 3.
Even my gripe with the Kleevi is somewhat addressed- enemies aren't interesting if they are simply 'bad' with no depth or explanation.
It's not a must read, but I'd start the series at this book or the previous one and skip the 1st 2 or 3.
January 29, 2021
Acorna’s World
Acorna has been trying to help Aari become healthier after his torture by the Khleevi but he was still processing the pain. The Khleevi are trying to destroy anyone so that they could feed their young and as long as the people cried out in pain they went after them, however Acorna and her family were not about to allow this to happen. Aari and Acorna finally realized that they had found something that would hurt the Khleevi and got everyone together to help defend Acorna’s people. Now just hoping it all goes to plan.
Acorna has been trying to help Aari become healthier after his torture by the Khleevi but he was still processing the pain. The Khleevi are trying to destroy anyone so that they could feed their young and as long as the people cried out in pain they went after them, however Acorna and her family were not about to allow this to happen. Aari and Acorna finally realized that they had found something that would hurt the Khleevi and got everyone together to help defend Acorna’s people. Now just hoping it all goes to plan.
November 9, 2025
Finally, some answers and conclusions in this book! The adventures of Acorna take a darker turn in this one, facing the Khleevi. But the writing is as good as ever. My only quip is the idea of someone terraforming and building an entire resort on a moon base in only a mere month or two. A feat that would easily take at least a decade irl. True fantasy.
November 26, 2020
Acorna and Aari are involved in finding ways to fight back against the Khleevi, and we find out why they like to torture people. The mix of characters is interesting and the story flows quite well. I enjoyed it.
September 22, 2017
A thoroughly enjoyable addition to the series, full of action and emotion.
June 17, 2018
Hey sorry I’m
Hey sorry I didn’t wanna I got home from the last one of my classes today and I’m just not answering the
Hey sorry I didn’t wanna I got home from the last one of my classes today and I’m just not answering the
September 1, 2019
Loved the Acorna Series, transports you to another world
April 21, 2021
Another excellent installment in the story of Acorna the unicorn girl.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
Read
March 31, 2022Not my favorite overall but loved the action and some of the comedic dialogue.
August 18, 2025
"Friends come together and teach each other."
Finally some resolution with the Khleevi. And I like Acorna traveling around space with Becker and RK, as opposed to being on a singular planet. It feels more sci-fi that way.
Finally some resolution with the Khleevi. And I like Acorna traveling around space with Becker and RK, as opposed to being on a singular planet. It feels more sci-fi that way.
July 29, 2018
Easy to read, probably the only way to get through it. Lacks depth or dimension of any kind, but what did I expect? I doubt I'll read the following book in the series.
Acorna continues her quest of helping everyone in her corner of the galaxy, defending them form the Khievii. We also finally get an inkling as to what drives the Khievii and why they're bent on destroying and consuming everything.
The initial ragtag band is now far from being that anymore, with almost unlimited resources at their disposal, Acorna bring together a few of her race and a few humans, while enlisting assistance from a race of plants and some other sentient beings, manage to successfully push back a Khievii attack and discovering a form of bio-weapon, specifically tailored for the bug-anatomy of the Khievii.
We can observe the lazy writing plaguing this series in all the moments where things just seem to happen in bouts of luck, where solutions just magically appear to our protagonists and they don't really put in that much of an effort. On the brink of defeat, something always shows up to help Acorna or her friends.
It will most definitely be a while until I may decide to finish this series, if I ever decide to do that.
Acorna continues her quest of helping everyone in her corner of the galaxy, defending them form the Khievii. We also finally get an inkling as to what drives the Khievii and why they're bent on destroying and consuming everything.
The initial ragtag band is now far from being that anymore, with almost unlimited resources at their disposal, Acorna bring together a few of her race and a few humans, while enlisting assistance from a race of plants and some other sentient beings, manage to successfully push back a Khievii attack and discovering a form of bio-weapon, specifically tailored for the bug-anatomy of the Khievii.
We can observe the lazy writing plaguing this series in all the moments where things just seem to happen in bouts of luck, where solutions just magically appear to our protagonists and they don't really put in that much of an effort. On the brink of defeat, something always shows up to help Acorna or her friends.
It will most definitely be a while until I may decide to finish this series, if I ever decide to do that.
June 15, 2015
I hadn't read these books for a few years but was able to pick up this book and fully enjoy being reintroduced to all the wonderful characters. The relationships build between Acorns and Aari developed nicely although I am still unclear about my feelings toward their ages and the physical contact in the building of the relationship. The action and excitement was well written with creativity and strategic planning.
March 3, 2009
This was the first Anne McCaffery book I've read that made me think maybe I'd outgrown her style of writing. It took awhile to engage me, through all the explanation of what had gone before. Once it did get going I enjoyed it. I find the process of filling in the uninformed viewer tedious, and unnecessary if the story stands strong on its own.
January 23, 2011
This story is really more about Aari and Acorna together. The two are well matched due to their experiences. The secret weapon they find together to stop the killing bugs is kind of mind boggling. I'm thinking, is this a social commentary? Is this about using organic? Is this about plants are actually sentient?
April 12, 2011
Another Acorna book
Only when I read this book for the second time did I realize how bad I felt about the agony Acorna's gone through. Acorna is a character that can last through so many many books and make you remember her forever. I love the Acorna series, Anne McCaffrey is a great writer.
Only when I read this book for the second time did I realize how bad I felt about the agony Acorna's gone through. Acorna is a character that can last through so many many books and make you remember her forever. I love the Acorna series, Anne McCaffrey is a great writer.
July 24, 2011
The heroic story of Acorna touched my heart. Her saga is a fantastic sci-fi journey in another galaxy, but the writing of the places and times makes them seem so real and even comfortable. Fantastic read for any sci-fi fan.
November 22, 2011
Once I was finally able to finish Acorna's People, I dove straight into Acorna's World. It kept me hooked and involved in every sequence. I just about could not put the book down. I can't wait until i'm able to read the next book!
January 30, 2013
I really liked it. The story is intriguing and the lesson I have for me is the value of looking beyond what's known, plants are sentient too, all is alive and well with a little push even love can arrive.
May 13, 2021
I like the book. It has the things I like from the previous books in it. It has a great story in it. They finally face the kleevii - with the coolest weapon ever-plants. This is just an overall great book.
February 15, 2009
Another book in the Acorna series. Not particularly memorable, but a fun, quick read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews