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Honorverse: Star Kingdom #4
A New Clan
A NEW NOVEL FEATURING STEPHANIE HARRINGTON IN HONORVERSE PREQUEL SERIES
Sex! Drugs! Rock ‘n’ Roll! And Treecats!
Freshly home from an internship on Manticore, teenaged Stephanie Harrington is up to her eyebrows in trouble.
There’s the new treecat adoptee who needs to be kept from becoming a risk to the carefully guarded secret of just how smart the arboreal inhabitants of Sphinx really are.
There’s the overeager journalist whose campaign to protect the treecats from exploitation as the newest, coolest pet on any planet could threaten the very creatures he seeks to defend.
And there’s the mysterious rash of weird accidents that are plaguing Sphinx’s younger inhabitants—including some of those nearest and dearest to Stephanie.
In trying to get enough proof to get the understaffed authorities of her pioneer planet to act, Stephanie will be called upon to attempt things she never imaged doing—including going undercover into the wilds of the late-night club scene, a realm where her faithful treecat guardian, Lionheart, cannot follow….
Sex! Drugs! Rock ‘n’ Roll! And Treecats!
Freshly home from an internship on Manticore, teenaged Stephanie Harrington is up to her eyebrows in trouble.
There’s the new treecat adoptee who needs to be kept from becoming a risk to the carefully guarded secret of just how smart the arboreal inhabitants of Sphinx really are.
There’s the overeager journalist whose campaign to protect the treecats from exploitation as the newest, coolest pet on any planet could threaten the very creatures he seeks to defend.
And there’s the mysterious rash of weird accidents that are plaguing Sphinx’s younger inhabitants—including some of those nearest and dearest to Stephanie.
In trying to get enough proof to get the understaffed authorities of her pioneer planet to act, Stephanie will be called upon to attempt things she never imaged doing—including going undercover into the wilds of the late-night club scene, a realm where her faithful treecat guardian, Lionheart, cannot follow….
432 pages, Hardcover
First published June 7, 2022
186 people are currently reading
430 people want to read
About the author
David Weber
322 books4,547 followersDavid Mark Weber is an American science fiction and fantasy author. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1952.
Many of his stories have military, particularly naval, themes, and fit into the military science fiction genre. He frequently places female leading characters in what have been traditionally male roles.
One of his most popular and enduring characters is Honor Harrington whose alliterated name is an homage to C.S. Forester's character Horatio Hornblower and her last name from a fleet doctor in Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander . Her story, together with the "Honorverse" she inhabits, has been developed through 16 novels and six shared-universe anthologies, as of spring 2013 (other works are in production). In 2008, he donated his archive to the department of Rare Books and Special Collections at Northern Illinois University.
Many of his books are available online, either in their entirety as part of the Baen Free Library or, in the case of more recent books, in the form of sample chapters (typically the first 25-33% of the work).
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidw...
Many of his stories have military, particularly naval, themes, and fit into the military science fiction genre. He frequently places female leading characters in what have been traditionally male roles.
One of his most popular and enduring characters is Honor Harrington whose alliterated name is an homage to C.S. Forester's character Horatio Hornblower and her last name from a fleet doctor in Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander . Her story, together with the "Honorverse" she inhabits, has been developed through 16 novels and six shared-universe anthologies, as of spring 2013 (other works are in production). In 2008, he donated his archive to the department of Rare Books and Special Collections at Northern Illinois University.
Many of his books are available online, either in their entirety as part of the Baen Free Library or, in the case of more recent books, in the form of sample chapters (typically the first 25-33% of the work).
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidw...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
December 1, 2024
mediocre 4th installment with lots of pages and little content
January 25, 2023
Fourth in the Stephanie Harrington (a.k.a. Star Kingdom) science fiction fantasy subseries for Young Adult readers and fourth within the Honorverse and revolving around the first Sphinxian to bond with a treecat. The focus is on Cordelia and Heart Stone. If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Honorverse books on my website.
My Take
I gotta say this is rather confusing with all the names — including those that the disabled Stone Shaper / Stone / Heart Stone comes up with.
Weber/Lindskold use third person global subjective point-of-view from a number of perspectives, starting with Stone Shaper, Danette, Mark and Zack, Cordelia, Stephanie, and more.
That said, these kids are strong and responsible, demonstrating their character arc over the series, even as Weber/Lindskold explore the growing up they still have to do. The human population is sparse and spread out with homesteads far between, relying heavily on the Internet for classes and socialization. Young adults will be quite jealous of their being able to get their driving license so early!
It is fascinating how descriptive Weber/Lindskold are of this world. Including the treecat perspective provides a balance with the human perspective. They bring home Sphinx's alienness in a number of ways through Marjorie Harrington's plant adjustments, the changes necessary for off-world animals to survive, creating tasteful recipes of native plants. The need for counter-grav to counter the extra gravity of the planet. The romantic collisions and 'cat interpretations.
The contrast between people's high tech and the frontier conditions of Sphinx would totally bewilder our world's pioneers. Skateboarders will probably be fascinated by Jake's descriptions of the various levels of track.
Sphinx is a dangerous planet, and its inhabitants all know they need to be careful, so there is plenty of action, from predators of both the animal and human variety. Consider Stephanie's explaining to her fellow bonded humans the Extreme Violence: the official Stephanie Harrington Treecat Recruitment Method. Mm-hmm, the characters are fascinating, on both sides.
Protecting the 'cats. Investigating the "stupidness" pattern Nosey uncovers.
The conflict humans and 'cats experience in trying to understand how each other communicates. The treecats noting the various mind glows of humans. The insight we get into what law enforcement can and can't do. There's a bit of background on journalism from Nosey. Family dynamics.
It's a conflict of "pets" and people. Are treecats intelligent enough to be considered the owners of Sphinx or are they merely smart animals. Can anyone adopt a treecat for a pet or should it be restricted. It's a conundrum made worse by Stephanie and her adherents refusing to let on how intelligent the tree cats are.
Those picnics the Harringtons throw sound amazing.
Oh, man. I sure wish our scientists could find such amazing fungi that could eat garbage!
I do wish Weber/Lindskold had been more obvious about how long ago Stone Shaper had left Bright Water.
Stephanie has come a long way since Treecat Wars , 3.
Now I need to continue on into the rest of the Honorverse. I need to know when humans and treecats were finally able to speak mind-to-mind.
The Story
Freshly home from a forestry training course on Manticore, teenaged Stephanie Harrington is up to her eyebrows in trouble.
There’s the new treecat adoptee who needs to be kept from becoming a risk to the carefully guarded secret of just how smart the arboreal inhabitants of Sphinx really are.
There’s the overeager journalist whose campaign to protect the treecats from exploitation as the newest, coolest pet on any planet could threaten the very creatures he seeks to defend.
And there’s the mysterious rash of weird accidents that are plaguing Sphinx’s younger inhabitants—including some of those nearest and dearest to Stephanie.
In trying to get enough proof to get the understaffed authorities of her pioneer planet to act, Stephanie is eager to plunge into undercover work, including the wilds of the late-night club scene, a realm where her faithful treecat guardian, Lionheart, cannot follow . . .
The Characters
The Treecats, the People
Treecats are a sentient species found only on the planet Sphinx. They are similar in appearance to housecats, but are longer, have six legs, and communicate empathically. The babies are called kittens and each clan of treecats is ruled by a memory singer, one who holds all the knowledge of the past.
The Bright Water Clan
Climbs Quickly had been a scout until he bonded with Stephanie. Sings Truly, Climbs Quickly's littermate, is a strong Memory singer. The sour Stone Biter, Clay Spinner, and Frolics Merrily are some of Stone Shaper's children. Song Spinner, a Memory singer, had been of Stone's generation. Fleet Wind is one of the head scouts.
Stone Shaper, a toolmaker, desperately wanted to die when his mate, Golden Eye, was dying of the gray death. Now, he's Stone, incapable of feeling life. Then he becomes Heart Stone.
The Trees Enfolding Clan had pushed in the Treecat Wars .
The almost-sixteen Stephanie Harrington "Death Fang's Bane" ("Fierce Fighter"), a probationary ranger, is a two-legs, who firmly believes in the intelligence of treecats — she's part of the Great Treecat Conspiracy. Lionheart, a.k.a. Climbs Quickly, of the Bright Water Clan, has bonded with Stephanie. Dr Richard Harrington "Healer" is a veterinarian and Stephanie's father. Her mother is Dr Marjorie "Plant Minder", a plant biologist, geneticist, and artist.
Jessica Pheriss "Windswept" ("Feels Strongly") is one of a number of children in the Pheriss family and has bonded with Valiant "Dirt Grubber of the Damp Water Clan" ("Plant Fancier"). She's currently "interning" at the SRW Hospital — she wants to be a doctor. Her mother, Naomi, is fascinated by plants and does some work with Marjorie Harrington. Her dad, Buddy, is footloose. Jessica's siblings include Nathan.
Ranger Karl Zivonik "Shining Sunlight" ("Determined Defender") has bonded with Survivor "Keen Eyes" ("Sharp Sight") formerly of the Swaying Fronds Clan, for they are both survivors ( Treecat Wars ). Karl's siblings include Anastasia "Staysa", Nadia "Dia", and Lev is their youngest brother. Sumiko had been the girl who had intended to marry Karl.
Anders Whittaker "Bleached Fur" had been dating Stephanie, but is now interested in Jessica. He normally lives on Urako where his mother is a politician. His father, Dr Brad Whittaker, is the head of a xeno-anthropolgy research mission.
The Barony of Schardt-Cordova
Lady Danette Schardt-Cordova is the baroness with an extended family. She has three daughters: Dana; the youngest, Natalie ("Air Dancer"); and, the shy Cordelia "Awakening Joy" and "Cordy" (Stone's name for her is "Life Shaper"). She has bonded with Athos "Heart Stone". The mischievous Mack ("Mends Things") is the family tinkerer and the artistic Zack Kemper ("Colorful Splotches") are brothers, who were taken in by Danette when their parents were taken by the Plague. Barnaby "Needle Biter" is their Meyerdahl Rottweiler. Second Nest is what Shaper calls the Kempers' house. Brad Abrazo is Mack's boyfriend and installs security systems. The boys' parents Bart Kemper had been one of the first-generation Sphinxians and had died in the Plague along with his wife.
Twin Forks is . . .
. . . the town closest to the Harringtons and where Stephanie's dad has a vet clinic. Sapristos is the mayor. The Red Letter Café is owned by Eric Flint and is one of the few restaurants that allow treecats. Toby Mednick is one of the kids' friends and is still with the hang-glider club as captain of the Blue Flight and one of their ace flyers. Chet and Christine are still dating and are friends from the hang gliding club. Frank Câmara ("Stench") works for his dad at his company, Câmara's Comestibles and Produce. He's been friends with Stan for years. Rodrigo Gállego is a friend of Frank's.
Balloon "Loon" Villaroy is dating Dia. The Franchittis are first-gen settlers; Jordan is the jerk of a family patriarch. Trudy, his daughter, shows growth! She's still dating Stan Chang, a doper. Dr Thomas Flambeau is with the hospital. Wild and Free is a new organization that rehabilitates injured animals.
José "Nosey" Jones is a courier and journalist with a column in the Sphinxian Oracle, who really rubs Stephanie the wrong way. Paschel Trendane is from a family of new settlers; Maisha is Paschel's mother. Jake Simpson is an incredible young athlete. His eight-year-old brother, Vernon, is trying out a cookie recipe. Eldora Yazzie is a dancer. Oliffe is Eldora's mother. Her father, Pirney, is a bio-mechanical engineer.
The Thunder Region
Dr Scott MacDallan "Darkness Foe" is a human doctor and married to Irina Kisaevna, a potter and Karl's aunt. Scott has bonded with Fisher "Swift Striker".
Yawata Crossing is . . .
. . . the capital of Sphinx and is the main headquarters for the Sphinxian Forestry Service (SFS) with Chief Ranger Shelton who really knows Stephanie — and approves. Carla Jensen is the duty dispatcher. Frank Lethbridge and Ainsley Jedrusinski are Senior Rangers and friends with Stephanie and Karl. Olivera Chuchkova is the police chief. Yawata Bay Baskets is a seafood restaurant. Lighter Than Here is one of the possible nightclubs. Enigmatic Riddle is a nightclub attached to a hotel. Xadrian is a hierophant at the Riddle. "Stevie Bitts" is a tourist from Manticore.
Dr. Sonura Hobbard, the "official head of the official Crown inquiry into treecat intelligence" for Manticore, is a xeno-anthropolist who is on Stephanie and company's side. Dr Glynis Bonaventure has money and can afford to import domes for her research into fungi. Renting from the Kemper boys, she establishes the Glynis Bonaventure Mycological Research and Analysis Center (GBMRAC or MRAC) (Rich Dirt Grove). Herman Maye ("Musty") is Glynis' gullible assistant. His laboratory is nicknamed Mr Ack's.
Dr Lyric Orgeson ("Little") leads a private R&D group with her own thugs Underwood, Willinski ("Kicker"), and Quesk.
The Star Kingdom is still young and consists of Manticore, Sphinx, and Grayson. Manticore is the seat of government with easier temperatures. Dr Mordecai Flouret, the head of the Forensics Department at Landing University, was one of Stephanie's and Karl's teachers on Manticore. Sphinx has sixteen-month-seasons with really heavy snowfall in the winter. The T-year is to acknowledge the timing of a "normal" year. The gray death is almost always fatal amongst treecats. The Amphors were the native species on Barstool and their extinction is a standard example of how humans put their own interests forward. Genies are humans genetically modified to survive the planet they're colonizing. Baka bakari is a new drug.
Each treecat has two names: the one by which s/he is known among the People (the treecats) and the human name given by his/her partner. The treecats also give humans a treecat name. In the parentheses are the names that Stone gives.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a black faded border all around the cover, framing a collage of scenarios with Stone, in the forefront yet lurking behind a rock formation, looking on at a couple of air cars, one parked in a field with Karl and Stephanie walking forward and one hovering. There are a couple of winged beasties flying in the sky, backed by a luminous planet. At the very top are the author's names in orange with a black outline. The title is at the bottom in a gradient of orange to yellow to orange with a black outline. Just above the title to the left is the series information in a black-backed white. Crossing Stone's lower haunch a testimonial in white with a black outline.
The title refers to the bonded treecats, for they're A New Clan.
My Take
I gotta say this is rather confusing with all the names — including those that the disabled Stone Shaper / Stone / Heart Stone comes up with.
Weber/Lindskold use third person global subjective point-of-view from a number of perspectives, starting with Stone Shaper, Danette, Mark and Zack, Cordelia, Stephanie, and more.
That said, these kids are strong and responsible, demonstrating their character arc over the series, even as Weber/Lindskold explore the growing up they still have to do. The human population is sparse and spread out with homesteads far between, relying heavily on the Internet for classes and socialization. Young adults will be quite jealous of their being able to get their driving license so early!
It is fascinating how descriptive Weber/Lindskold are of this world. Including the treecat perspective provides a balance with the human perspective. They bring home Sphinx's alienness in a number of ways through Marjorie Harrington's plant adjustments, the changes necessary for off-world animals to survive, creating tasteful recipes of native plants. The need for counter-grav to counter the extra gravity of the planet. The romantic collisions and 'cat interpretations.
The contrast between people's high tech and the frontier conditions of Sphinx would totally bewilder our world's pioneers. Skateboarders will probably be fascinated by Jake's descriptions of the various levels of track.
Sphinx is a dangerous planet, and its inhabitants all know they need to be careful, so there is plenty of action, from predators of both the animal and human variety. Consider Stephanie's explaining to her fellow bonded humans the Extreme Violence: the official Stephanie Harrington Treecat Recruitment Method. Mm-hmm, the characters are fascinating, on both sides.
Protecting the 'cats. Investigating the "stupidness" pattern Nosey uncovers.
The conflict humans and 'cats experience in trying to understand how each other communicates. The treecats noting the various mind glows of humans. The insight we get into what law enforcement can and can't do. There's a bit of background on journalism from Nosey. Family dynamics.
It's a conflict of "pets" and people. Are treecats intelligent enough to be considered the owners of Sphinx or are they merely smart animals. Can anyone adopt a treecat for a pet or should it be restricted. It's a conundrum made worse by Stephanie and her adherents refusing to let on how intelligent the tree cats are.
Those picnics the Harringtons throw sound amazing.
Oh, man. I sure wish our scientists could find such amazing fungi that could eat garbage!
I do wish Weber/Lindskold had been more obvious about how long ago Stone Shaper had left Bright Water.
Stephanie has come a long way since Treecat Wars , 3.
Now I need to continue on into the rest of the Honorverse. I need to know when humans and treecats were finally able to speak mind-to-mind.
The Story
Freshly home from a forestry training course on Manticore, teenaged Stephanie Harrington is up to her eyebrows in trouble.
There’s the new treecat adoptee who needs to be kept from becoming a risk to the carefully guarded secret of just how smart the arboreal inhabitants of Sphinx really are.
There’s the overeager journalist whose campaign to protect the treecats from exploitation as the newest, coolest pet on any planet could threaten the very creatures he seeks to defend.
And there’s the mysterious rash of weird accidents that are plaguing Sphinx’s younger inhabitants—including some of those nearest and dearest to Stephanie.
In trying to get enough proof to get the understaffed authorities of her pioneer planet to act, Stephanie is eager to plunge into undercover work, including the wilds of the late-night club scene, a realm where her faithful treecat guardian, Lionheart, cannot follow . . .
The Characters
The Treecats, the People
Treecats are a sentient species found only on the planet Sphinx. They are similar in appearance to housecats, but are longer, have six legs, and communicate empathically. The babies are called kittens and each clan of treecats is ruled by a memory singer, one who holds all the knowledge of the past.
The Bright Water Clan
Climbs Quickly had been a scout until he bonded with Stephanie. Sings Truly, Climbs Quickly's littermate, is a strong Memory singer. The sour Stone Biter, Clay Spinner, and Frolics Merrily are some of Stone Shaper's children. Song Spinner, a Memory singer, had been of Stone's generation. Fleet Wind is one of the head scouts.
Stone Shaper, a toolmaker, desperately wanted to die when his mate, Golden Eye, was dying of the gray death. Now, he's Stone, incapable of feeling life. Then he becomes Heart Stone.
The Trees Enfolding Clan had pushed in the Treecat Wars .
The almost-sixteen Stephanie Harrington "Death Fang's Bane" ("Fierce Fighter"), a probationary ranger, is a two-legs, who firmly believes in the intelligence of treecats — she's part of the Great Treecat Conspiracy. Lionheart, a.k.a. Climbs Quickly, of the Bright Water Clan, has bonded with Stephanie. Dr Richard Harrington "Healer" is a veterinarian and Stephanie's father. Her mother is Dr Marjorie "Plant Minder", a plant biologist, geneticist, and artist.
Jessica Pheriss "Windswept" ("Feels Strongly") is one of a number of children in the Pheriss family and has bonded with Valiant "Dirt Grubber of the Damp Water Clan" ("Plant Fancier"). She's currently "interning" at the SRW Hospital — she wants to be a doctor. Her mother, Naomi, is fascinated by plants and does some work with Marjorie Harrington. Her dad, Buddy, is footloose. Jessica's siblings include Nathan.
Ranger Karl Zivonik "Shining Sunlight" ("Determined Defender") has bonded with Survivor "Keen Eyes" ("Sharp Sight") formerly of the Swaying Fronds Clan, for they are both survivors ( Treecat Wars ). Karl's siblings include Anastasia "Staysa", Nadia "Dia", and Lev is their youngest brother. Sumiko had been the girl who had intended to marry Karl.
Anders Whittaker "Bleached Fur" had been dating Stephanie, but is now interested in Jessica. He normally lives on Urako where his mother is a politician. His father, Dr Brad Whittaker, is the head of a xeno-anthropolgy research mission.
The Barony of Schardt-Cordova
Lady Danette Schardt-Cordova is the baroness with an extended family. She has three daughters: Dana; the youngest, Natalie ("Air Dancer"); and, the shy Cordelia "Awakening Joy" and "Cordy" (Stone's name for her is "Life Shaper"). She has bonded with Athos "Heart Stone". The mischievous Mack ("Mends Things") is the family tinkerer and the artistic Zack Kemper ("Colorful Splotches") are brothers, who were taken in by Danette when their parents were taken by the Plague. Barnaby "Needle Biter" is their Meyerdahl Rottweiler. Second Nest is what Shaper calls the Kempers' house. Brad Abrazo is Mack's boyfriend and installs security systems. The boys' parents Bart Kemper had been one of the first-generation Sphinxians and had died in the Plague along with his wife.
Twin Forks is . . .
. . . the town closest to the Harringtons and where Stephanie's dad has a vet clinic. Sapristos is the mayor. The Red Letter Café is owned by Eric Flint and is one of the few restaurants that allow treecats. Toby Mednick is one of the kids' friends and is still with the hang-glider club as captain of the Blue Flight and one of their ace flyers. Chet and Christine are still dating and are friends from the hang gliding club. Frank Câmara ("Stench") works for his dad at his company, Câmara's Comestibles and Produce. He's been friends with Stan for years. Rodrigo Gállego is a friend of Frank's.
Balloon "Loon" Villaroy is dating Dia. The Franchittis are first-gen settlers; Jordan is the jerk of a family patriarch. Trudy, his daughter, shows growth! She's still dating Stan Chang, a doper. Dr Thomas Flambeau is with the hospital. Wild and Free is a new organization that rehabilitates injured animals.
José "Nosey" Jones is a courier and journalist with a column in the Sphinxian Oracle, who really rubs Stephanie the wrong way. Paschel Trendane is from a family of new settlers; Maisha is Paschel's mother. Jake Simpson is an incredible young athlete. His eight-year-old brother, Vernon, is trying out a cookie recipe. Eldora Yazzie is a dancer. Oliffe is Eldora's mother. Her father, Pirney, is a bio-mechanical engineer.
The Thunder Region
Dr Scott MacDallan "Darkness Foe" is a human doctor and married to Irina Kisaevna, a potter and Karl's aunt. Scott has bonded with Fisher "Swift Striker".
Yawata Crossing is . . .
. . . the capital of Sphinx and is the main headquarters for the Sphinxian Forestry Service (SFS) with Chief Ranger Shelton who really knows Stephanie — and approves. Carla Jensen is the duty dispatcher. Frank Lethbridge and Ainsley Jedrusinski are Senior Rangers and friends with Stephanie and Karl. Olivera Chuchkova is the police chief. Yawata Bay Baskets is a seafood restaurant. Lighter Than Here is one of the possible nightclubs. Enigmatic Riddle is a nightclub attached to a hotel. Xadrian is a hierophant at the Riddle. "Stevie Bitts" is a tourist from Manticore.
Dr. Sonura Hobbard, the "official head of the official Crown inquiry into treecat intelligence" for Manticore, is a xeno-anthropolist who is on Stephanie and company's side. Dr Glynis Bonaventure has money and can afford to import domes for her research into fungi. Renting from the Kemper boys, she establishes the Glynis Bonaventure Mycological Research and Analysis Center (GBMRAC or MRAC) (Rich Dirt Grove). Herman Maye ("Musty") is Glynis' gullible assistant. His laboratory is nicknamed Mr Ack's.
Dr Lyric Orgeson ("Little") leads a private R&D group with her own thugs Underwood, Willinski ("Kicker"), and Quesk.
The Star Kingdom is still young and consists of Manticore, Sphinx, and Grayson. Manticore is the seat of government with easier temperatures. Dr Mordecai Flouret, the head of the Forensics Department at Landing University, was one of Stephanie's and Karl's teachers on Manticore. Sphinx has sixteen-month-seasons with really heavy snowfall in the winter. The T-year is to acknowledge the timing of a "normal" year. The gray death is almost always fatal amongst treecats. The Amphors were the native species on Barstool and their extinction is a standard example of how humans put their own interests forward. Genies are humans genetically modified to survive the planet they're colonizing. Baka bakari is a new drug.
Each treecat has two names: the one by which s/he is known among the People (the treecats) and the human name given by his/her partner. The treecats also give humans a treecat name. In the parentheses are the names that Stone gives.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a black faded border all around the cover, framing a collage of scenarios with Stone, in the forefront yet lurking behind a rock formation, looking on at a couple of air cars, one parked in a field with Karl and Stephanie walking forward and one hovering. There are a couple of winged beasties flying in the sky, backed by a luminous planet. At the very top are the author's names in orange with a black outline. The title is at the bottom in a gradient of orange to yellow to orange with a black outline. Just above the title to the left is the series information in a black-backed white. Crossing Stone's lower haunch a testimonial in white with a black outline.
The title refers to the bonded treecats, for they're A New Clan.
January 1, 2025
Although this was a good addition, I'd've prefered more about tree caats and less about chasing bad guys. I was having quite a time remembering each of the characters three different names. I found a book review from my link text that sorted it out and that helped a lot. Hopefully, they will add such a thing to the next book due out this year!
June 19, 2022
A bit slow and repetitive, but I enjoyed it!
June 18, 2022
I quite enjoyed the book, but it wasn’t quite what I expected. With my imperfect recollection it seemed like the previous three books had ‘Young Adult’ elements to them, but they were really just books that YAs could read as well as adults. This book felt like it was definitely aimed at Children/YAs.
On a personal level I found some of the explanations a bit long-winded, especially when they were quite repetitive or really self-evident. I could also have done without some of the teenage angst and romance
The book does have more insight into the Tree-Cats and their relationships, but what I would have liked was more of the Tree-Cats being involved in the investigation. There were a couple of moments when they moved to defend their ‘humans’, but there were really on the periphery throughout this book. Perhaps this would have required more direct action than was possible in a children’s book.
On a personal level I found some of the explanations a bit long-winded, especially when they were quite repetitive or really self-evident. I could also have done without some of the teenage angst and romance
The book does have more insight into the Tree-Cats and their relationships, but what I would have liked was more of the Tree-Cats being involved in the investigation. There were a couple of moments when they moved to defend their ‘humans’, but there were really on the periphery throughout this book. Perhaps this would have required more direct action than was possible in a children’s book.
June 22, 2022
[22 Jun 2022]
I liked the first three books in the Treecat series, but I had to force myself to finish this one. I'm not sure if it was because it was YA. Sure I'm many years removed from the trials of tween and teen problems, but I remember those feelings. Of course, I may not always be sympathetic. But I just had trouble caring about the latest adventures of Stephanie and Climbs Quickly. I think part of it was that the book was a little unfocused. I'm not sure whether the primary character was supposed to be Stephanie or Cordelia (the latest treecat adoptee). Another part of it was that the big plot issue -- a new drug circulating among young people -- seemed not as urgent to me as it was to them. Certainly not as exciting as the first three books. I was left feeling really disappointed.
I liked the first three books in the Treecat series, but I had to force myself to finish this one. I'm not sure if it was because it was YA. Sure I'm many years removed from the trials of tween and teen problems, but I remember those feelings. Of course, I may not always be sympathetic. But I just had trouble caring about the latest adventures of Stephanie and Climbs Quickly. I think part of it was that the book was a little unfocused. I'm not sure whether the primary character was supposed to be Stephanie or Cordelia (the latest treecat adoptee). Another part of it was that the big plot issue -- a new drug circulating among young people -- seemed not as urgent to me as it was to them. Certainly not as exciting as the first three books. I was left feeling really disappointed.
September 4, 2022
1. what happened to the adair foundation from book # 3?
2. i couldn't keep up with the different treecat names for treecats: their personal names, the 2-legs' names for them, & stones' names for them.
3. same with two-legs' names: theirs, treecat names for them, & stone's names for them..
2. i couldn't keep up with the different treecat names for treecats: their personal names, the 2-legs' names for them, & stones' names for them.
3. same with two-legs' names: theirs, treecat names for them, & stone's names for them..
June 26, 2023
It seems adult criminals were acting like juveniles in this YA book. The progress towards understanding treecat intelligence seems incredibly limited, even if the focus of the stories is actually the younger near adult population of a recently settled world. I suppose I began reading these books to see what kind of background might be provided for Honor Harrington, but I am not really expecting much of that anymore. The growing group of characters is interesting even with the lack of credibility in some areas. Youth participation in settling a new world would seem to be much higher than in more developed societies and the plague had decimated the adult population, so the general plot has merit. Once I get one or two more answers on background, I expect to re-read the Honor Harrington series. In the mean time, these stories are fun.
June 20, 2022
Good addition to the series
I enjoyed the story and writing. The only quibble I have is the frequent switches in view point character, sometimes within the same scene. That was a little confusing and could have used another round of edits to visually ot textually signal the changes.
I enjoyed the story and writing. The only quibble I have is the frequent switches in view point character, sometimes within the same scene. That was a little confusing and could have used another round of edits to visually ot textually signal the changes.
July 9, 2022
May we all sit in the arms of a crown oak.
A fine addition to the young life of a heroic champion of order ad Justice in the star kingdom. Good for young, good for my old brain. I'm hopefully awaiting new stories.
A fine addition to the young life of a heroic champion of order ad Justice in the star kingdom. Good for young, good for my old brain. I'm hopefully awaiting new stories.
June 18, 2022
60+ yo than target readers
Well crafted expansion in early Treecat Human history. Stone Shaper has survived the loss of his mate and his communications with treecats. He becomes a loner who tries to help a two-legs when she is swarmed by a killer nest of carnivores. As they recover Cordelia and 'Athos ' are brought into investigating a new rash of accidents that may be triggered by something new on Sphinx. Adding to the other young people who have been bonded with treecats, it is a great addiction that the series.
Well crafted expansion in early Treecat Human history. Stone Shaper has survived the loss of his mate and his communications with treecats. He becomes a loner who tries to help a two-legs when she is swarmed by a killer nest of carnivores. As they recover Cordelia and 'Athos ' are brought into investigating a new rash of accidents that may be triggered by something new on Sphinx. Adding to the other young people who have been bonded with treecats, it is a great addiction that the series.
June 5, 2022
Book 4 seemed like another start of motion, where as Book 3 (Treecat Wars) felt more like it had been wrapping up different lines from the previous 2.
In someways, I felt that there was too much being forced in interactions between the characters. For instance, throwing Anders into the mix after essentially having cleared his story line so well in Book 3, pushed a closure that I didn't necessarily feel I needed to have within this book.
What I do love is the interesting dilemma that the treecats discover in the newest adopted 'cat. Convenient that Climbs Quickly knew the 'cat from his own youth. The last chapter has a beautiful ending and beginning around the dilemma, which brought me happy tears.
Overall, I enjoyed this read more than the previous book.
In someways, I felt that there was too much being forced in interactions between the characters. For instance, throwing Anders into the mix after essentially having cleared his story line so well in Book 3, pushed a closure that I didn't necessarily feel I needed to have within this book.
What I do love is the interesting dilemma that the treecats discover in the newest adopted 'cat. Convenient that Climbs Quickly knew the 'cat from his own youth. The last chapter has a beautiful ending and beginning around the dilemma, which brought me happy tears.
Overall, I enjoyed this read more than the previous book.
October 10, 2022
It's been a long, long time since the last Stephanie Harrington book, so long that I maybe read through the first three again (in the span of three days!) before I embarked on my journey to read the fourth one. Funny enough, I was almost immediately disappointed that we didn't start off with Stephanie, but some new character named Cordelia that I promptly decided I didn't care much for.
Thankfully, it got better, haha.
Mostly this book deals with a new character, Cordelia, finding herself bonded to a treecat. Then a new conspiracy is afoot as a rash of accidents cause concern in both a journalist and then Stephanie and co. The latter is where the book shines, and while the former is important it just didn't engage me.
That said, the beginning was achingly slow. I didn't really love Cordelia and her circumstances when I was clamoring to go back to Stephanie and the gang. The plot seemed to have trouble lifting off at first--or maybe it's just that I don't fair well with multiple POVs. There were parts I was tempted to skim because it bored me. But then it just... became more engaging? Somehow? It happened near the middle of the book, things started to pick up, the plot was making itself known, we see the gang striving towards a goal, even if it's a nebulous one.
It's a bit odd, actually, how this book feels both of a beginning and ending of something. Stephanie and her friends are growing up, finding their way into the future, and the growing pains are very relatable. The treecats are as cute and amazing as always, and the bond humans and treecats have with one another still makes the inner preteen me ridiculously happy. I really enjoy how even past foes become something just a little bit more.
The inter-character relationships are... interesting, I suppose. You'd think after the entire Anders falling in love with Jessica thing that happened throughout the entire last book it would go somewhere, but it definitely went places I wasn't quite expecting. I'm not entirely opposed to it, but it was kind of funny how you went from book three to this one. I am happy we see more of Karl and his thoughts, because the poor guy has been mostly pushed into Stephanie's shadow.
For all the book had a gap of almost ten years between book three and four (I thought a new book would never come out), the story keeps going with just the slightest hitch in its beat that smooths out relatively quickly. For all my disappointment with the beginning, the ending was rather delightful. If the beginning was two stars, then the ending was a solid four and, quite frankly, endings count more than beginnings for me. 4 stars.
Thankfully, it got better, haha.
Mostly this book deals with a new character, Cordelia, finding herself bonded to a treecat. Then a new conspiracy is afoot as a rash of accidents cause concern in both a journalist and then Stephanie and co. The latter is where the book shines, and while the former is important it just didn't engage me.
That said, the beginning was achingly slow. I didn't really love Cordelia and her circumstances when I was clamoring to go back to Stephanie and the gang. The plot seemed to have trouble lifting off at first--or maybe it's just that I don't fair well with multiple POVs. There were parts I was tempted to skim because it bored me. But then it just... became more engaging? Somehow? It happened near the middle of the book, things started to pick up, the plot was making itself known, we see the gang striving towards a goal, even if it's a nebulous one.
It's a bit odd, actually, how this book feels both of a beginning and ending of something. Stephanie and her friends are growing up, finding their way into the future, and the growing pains are very relatable. The treecats are as cute and amazing as always, and the bond humans and treecats have with one another still makes the inner preteen me ridiculously happy. I really enjoy how even past foes become something just a little bit more.
The inter-character relationships are... interesting, I suppose. You'd think after the entire Anders falling in love with Jessica thing that happened throughout the entire last book it would go somewhere, but it definitely went places I wasn't quite expecting. I'm not entirely opposed to it, but it was kind of funny how you went from book three to this one. I am happy we see more of Karl and his thoughts, because the poor guy has been mostly pushed into Stephanie's shadow.
For all the book had a gap of almost ten years between book three and four (I thought a new book would never come out), the story keeps going with just the slightest hitch in its beat that smooths out relatively quickly. For all my disappointment with the beginning, the ending was rather delightful. If the beginning was two stars, then the ending was a solid four and, quite frankly, endings count more than beginnings for me. 4 stars.
June 20, 2022
Yay for another Stephanie Harrington novel!
Stephanie is the ancestor to Honor Harrington, the main protagonist of David Weber's world. By the time of Honor Harrington, treecats had just been recognized as sentient and Persons in their own right.
Stephanie, on the other hand, had first discovered treecats four years ago by the time of this novel. She had been eleven then. She is fifteen now, going on sixteen. So, she and her friends have to do their best to be sure that the rest of the planet never find out that treecats are indeed sentient and very much Persons in their own right.
This book explored new territory. At the beginning of the book, one of the treecats was one of a longtime bonded pair. His mate was dying from the gray death (not too dissimilar to our pandemic). Anyway, frequently in such cases, the bereaved mate dies soon afterward as well.
But that did not happen in this case. Instead, our treecat recovered BUT lost the ability to communicate telepathically with his fellow treecats. The overwhelming pity he felt from his family & friends made him strike out on his own as a loner, no matter that treecats are very social animals and live in families.
The good news is that this same widowed treecat ends up bonding with one of Stephanie's friends, a girl named Cordelia. Humans, nonnative to the planet Sphinx, have very strong "mindglows" that closely resemble treecat mindglows. So, our treecat has found a new mate, except Cordelia is of another species (human).
Humans, of course, are NOT telepathic and rely on what the treecats call "mouth noises". Since the treecats only say "Bleek" (not too dissimilar to Groot's "I am Groot"), treecats do not rely on spoken language. At all.
So, it is fascinating watching our "crippled" treecat whose fellow treecats try to work around the fact that this treecat cannot share his thoughts in the usual way at the same time as the newly adopted treecats try to work out ways to communicate with their new human bondmates.
And most of these new bondmates are teenage girls, at that. (Here and there treecats have, in fact, also bonded with adult humans.)
So, I totally enjoyed this book.
This series (about Stephanie) is coauthored by Jane Lindskold. David Weber totally needed Jane's input because Jane (unlike Mr. Weber) HAD at one time been a teenage girl herself and so could more realistically portray the thoughts and actions of teen girls.
Fortunately for me, more Stephanie Harrington books are in the pipeline!
Stephanie is the ancestor to Honor Harrington, the main protagonist of David Weber's world. By the time of Honor Harrington, treecats had just been recognized as sentient and Persons in their own right.
Stephanie, on the other hand, had first discovered treecats four years ago by the time of this novel. She had been eleven then. She is fifteen now, going on sixteen. So, she and her friends have to do their best to be sure that the rest of the planet never find out that treecats are indeed sentient and very much Persons in their own right.
This book explored new territory. At the beginning of the book, one of the treecats was one of a longtime bonded pair. His mate was dying from the gray death (not too dissimilar to our pandemic). Anyway, frequently in such cases, the bereaved mate dies soon afterward as well.
But that did not happen in this case. Instead, our treecat recovered BUT lost the ability to communicate telepathically with his fellow treecats. The overwhelming pity he felt from his family & friends made him strike out on his own as a loner, no matter that treecats are very social animals and live in families.
The good news is that this same widowed treecat ends up bonding with one of Stephanie's friends, a girl named Cordelia. Humans, nonnative to the planet Sphinx, have very strong "mindglows" that closely resemble treecat mindglows. So, our treecat has found a new mate, except Cordelia is of another species (human).
Humans, of course, are NOT telepathic and rely on what the treecats call "mouth noises". Since the treecats only say "Bleek" (not too dissimilar to Groot's "I am Groot"), treecats do not rely on spoken language. At all.
So, it is fascinating watching our "crippled" treecat whose fellow treecats try to work around the fact that this treecat cannot share his thoughts in the usual way at the same time as the newly adopted treecats try to work out ways to communicate with their new human bondmates.
And most of these new bondmates are teenage girls, at that. (Here and there treecats have, in fact, also bonded with adult humans.)
So, I totally enjoyed this book.
This series (about Stephanie) is coauthored by Jane Lindskold. David Weber totally needed Jane's input because Jane (unlike Mr. Weber) HAD at one time been a teenage girl herself and so could more realistically portray the thoughts and actions of teen girls.
Fortunately for me, more Stephanie Harrington books are in the pipeline!
July 24, 2022
The fourth book in Stephanie Harrington's series, which is a prequel to the Honor Harrington series, concerns keeping some secrets about the treecats to avoid them being massacred as happened to another species on a world when humans settled. It also has to do with a new drug that is being created which is causing a large number of accidents among young adults near where Stephanie lives.
When this story begins, Stephanie is almost sixteen and has been partnered with her treecat Lionheart for almost five years. Some others, including a few people near Stephanie's age, have also been adopted. Reporter Nosey Jones is making it his cause to protect the treecats so they won't be exploited or exterminated like another species on a different world humans settled. Those who have bonded with treecats are part of a conspiracy to conceal just how intelligent the species is. Treecats lack a written and spoken language which makes some believe that they are just "dumb animals." However, they seem to be both telepaths and empaths and also to have about the same level of intelligence as humans. This fact is being concealed by both the treecats and those who have bonded with them.
There is also another problem that is consuming a lot of attention. It is Nosey Jones who first spots the increased number of "accidents" that are plaguing local young adults. It seems as though there is a new drug being developed and being tested on unsuspecting young people. With local law enforcement and the Sphynx Forestry Service stretched because of a lack of personnel and very small budgets, Probationary Ranger Stephanie Harrington and Ranger Karl Zivonik are tasked with looking into these accidents and a possible new drug.
The story was engaging and entertaining. I like the way Stephanie is growing up and expanding her set of friends. I liked that there were some teenage problems regarding relationships in the story too. I liked that part of the story was told from the treecats' points-of-view.
When this story begins, Stephanie is almost sixteen and has been partnered with her treecat Lionheart for almost five years. Some others, including a few people near Stephanie's age, have also been adopted. Reporter Nosey Jones is making it his cause to protect the treecats so they won't be exploited or exterminated like another species on a different world humans settled. Those who have bonded with treecats are part of a conspiracy to conceal just how intelligent the species is. Treecats lack a written and spoken language which makes some believe that they are just "dumb animals." However, they seem to be both telepaths and empaths and also to have about the same level of intelligence as humans. This fact is being concealed by both the treecats and those who have bonded with them.
There is also another problem that is consuming a lot of attention. It is Nosey Jones who first spots the increased number of "accidents" that are plaguing local young adults. It seems as though there is a new drug being developed and being tested on unsuspecting young people. With local law enforcement and the Sphynx Forestry Service stretched because of a lack of personnel and very small budgets, Probationary Ranger Stephanie Harrington and Ranger Karl Zivonik are tasked with looking into these accidents and a possible new drug.
The story was engaging and entertaining. I like the way Stephanie is growing up and expanding her set of friends. I liked that there were some teenage problems regarding relationships in the story too. I liked that part of the story was told from the treecats' points-of-view.
September 22, 2022
"Star Kingdom" series #4; Honorverse #2-to-the-n-minus-1.
Each of these books seems to involve a new human getting bonded to a Sphinxian treecat. In this case, it's Cordelia Schardt-Cordova, a young lady who is out and about on her perambulations with the family Rottweiler, Barnaby, when she is set upon by a swarm of "near-weasels." Her rifle is nearly useless against them, and, though she and Barnaby strive mightily, it is clear that they will be eaten alive...when a treecat jumps in and joins the fight on her side, which slows the near-weasels down, but they're *all* about to be deaded when the big firepower shows up. The three of them are carted off for medical care, and Cordelia quickly discovers that she has now got a mental bond with this 'cat.
From the 'cat's point of view: Stone Shaper changed his name to Stone, but no other treecat knows, or can know. His mate died of a disease that did not kill him, but left him unable to mindspeak with the other treecats, though he can still perceive their "mind-glow," i.e., an empathic power, that also applies to the "two-legs" and especially the one he's bonded with. She can feel his emotion too, somewhat.
So she joins the other three bonded folks in the "Great Treecat Conspiracy," whose goal is to protect treecats from exploitation until it can be shown definitively that they are sapient beings.
But in the meanwhile, the area they live in is beset by a series of strange and often severe accidents, usually the result of carelessness on the part of someone for whom carelessness is quite uncharacteristic. The Conspirators get involved in investigating it, and of course there's an explanation and it's not good and they overcome it in the end but it's the journey that matters because we always knew they would, it being a YA novel.
Each of these books seems to involve a new human getting bonded to a Sphinxian treecat. In this case, it's Cordelia Schardt-Cordova, a young lady who is out and about on her perambulations with the family Rottweiler, Barnaby, when she is set upon by a swarm of "near-weasels." Her rifle is nearly useless against them, and, though she and Barnaby strive mightily, it is clear that they will be eaten alive...when a treecat jumps in and joins the fight on her side, which slows the near-weasels down, but they're *all* about to be deaded when the big firepower shows up. The three of them are carted off for medical care, and Cordelia quickly discovers that she has now got a mental bond with this 'cat.
From the 'cat's point of view: Stone Shaper changed his name to Stone, but no other treecat knows, or can know. His mate died of a disease that did not kill him, but left him unable to mindspeak with the other treecats, though he can still perceive their "mind-glow," i.e., an empathic power, that also applies to the "two-legs" and especially the one he's bonded with. She can feel his emotion too, somewhat.
So she joins the other three bonded folks in the "Great Treecat Conspiracy," whose goal is to protect treecats from exploitation until it can be shown definitively that they are sapient beings.
But in the meanwhile, the area they live in is beset by a series of strange and often severe accidents, usually the result of carelessness on the part of someone for whom carelessness is quite uncharacteristic. The Conspirators get involved in investigating it, and of course there's an explanation and it's not good and they overcome it in the end but it's the journey that matters because we always knew they would, it being a YA novel.
February 18, 2025
The theme of this story is aimed at a slightly older audience... like older high school students and college students.
The story: A budding reporter has been investigating a series of near fatal accidents, most of which might be traced to the failures of an overworked forestry service, but as the investigation continues, the reporter senses a pattern. Something sinister is going on. Are drugs involved? The accident victims have been tested for drugs, but were they tested for everything? And who would benefit? Stephanie Harrington is a probationary forestry ranger and, in a sense, an agent of the law... sort of. Although there is not enough evidence for a formal investigation, Stephanie gets a few volunteers to help her look into what is happening to her fellow young people.
Any problems with this story? Well... the subject (in part) is date rape. That is a little more advanced than one would expect for young teens, but for high school girls getting ready for prom, it is relevant.
I found Stephanie's parent's willingness to let her get involved in the investigation to be unbelievable, but consistent with how they had been acting in the previous novels. Given that Stephanie was part of a genetically altered line of humans that made them stronger, she could have pummeled any two or three boys into paste if they got out of line. That probably made her parents more confident in their daughter.
Eventually the mysteries were solved and justice won over evil. I might read this book again as part of reading the entire series.
The story: A budding reporter has been investigating a series of near fatal accidents, most of which might be traced to the failures of an overworked forestry service, but as the investigation continues, the reporter senses a pattern. Something sinister is going on. Are drugs involved? The accident victims have been tested for drugs, but were they tested for everything? And who would benefit? Stephanie Harrington is a probationary forestry ranger and, in a sense, an agent of the law... sort of. Although there is not enough evidence for a formal investigation, Stephanie gets a few volunteers to help her look into what is happening to her fellow young people.
Any problems with this story? Well... the subject (in part) is date rape. That is a little more advanced than one would expect for young teens, but for high school girls getting ready for prom, it is relevant.
I found Stephanie's parent's willingness to let her get involved in the investigation to be unbelievable, but consistent with how they had been acting in the previous novels. Given that Stephanie was part of a genetically altered line of humans that made them stronger, she could have pummeled any two or three boys into paste if they got out of line. That probably made her parents more confident in their daughter.
Eventually the mysteries were solved and justice won over evil. I might read this book again as part of reading the entire series.
July 25, 2022
Cordelia is marking timber to be cleared when she is attacked by monsters, but the treecat Heart Stone risks his life to save her. Just when he thinks he has nothing to live for, he forms a bond with the young woman, which brings them into the company of a familiar pair, Stephanie Harrington and her treecat Climbs Quickly. Stephanie helps them with their new bond while also trying to protect the intelligent beings of the planet Sphinx. Meanwhile, the reporter Nosey discovers a string of suspicious accidents among the young colonists. He’s viciously beaten to keep his mouth shut, but he turns to Stephanie for help anyway, who is now officially a probationary ranger with the Forestry Service.
The large cast of characters and multiple points of view might be off-putting to those who want to spend all their time with Stephanie and Climbs Quickly, but the story flows smoothly. This is the fourth installment in the YA spin-off series set in the Honorverse, so this is already a remarkably established world, and there is plenty of fast-paced drama and trauma. Fans of this series will appreciate the ongoing bonds between the humans and treecats.
(This review was originally written for Library Journal magazine.)
The large cast of characters and multiple points of view might be off-putting to those who want to spend all their time with Stephanie and Climbs Quickly, but the story flows smoothly. This is the fourth installment in the YA spin-off series set in the Honorverse, so this is already a remarkably established world, and there is plenty of fast-paced drama and trauma. Fans of this series will appreciate the ongoing bonds between the humans and treecats.
(This review was originally written for Library Journal magazine.)
July 10, 2022
Stone Shaper (Stone, Heart Stone, Athos) has survived a terrible plague while losing his mate and his ability to mindspeak his fellow treecats. Feeling guilt, he exiles himself from the Bright Water Clan. Despairingly, he waits until he can die and be with his mate again. But Fate has something else in store for him. When he witnesses a young woman and her Rottweiler being attacked by near-weasels, he feels compelled to save her if he can. What he receives is a bond which gives his life meaning again. This is the fourth book in the Treecat series. I enjoyed this and hope the authors will continue writing. There were a lot of good characters in here: Stephanie, Karl, Cordelia, the Kemper Boys, Climbs Quickly, Sings Truly, Valiant, Survivor, Heart Stone, etc. The plot line was unrealistic to me since the SFS (game wardens) would not likely have had civilian teenagers conducting an investigation. But who cares? The treecats earned their five stars.
March 17, 2023
I love David Weber's treecat species: sentient and telepathic, they know humans are wildly intelligent, but can't speak with them. Mouth noises mean nothing to them.
Humans consider them merely intelligent animals. All except for the few humans who empathicly bond with treecats. They know treecats are as smart as people; but they hide it, because governments and laws are not ready to treat them as equal species.
That's only the setting. The plot revolves around an increasing number of serious accidents to otherwise healthy and mature people. The teens in the story have a club/secret society devoted to protecting treecats from harm. All the teens have bonded with treecats. They get involved in solving this mystery.
I love the treecat sections of the story, but the teen romantic entanglements I find boring. I realize this sets up future marriages later in the series, but I just don't care. That's why this is perhaps the first David Weber book that only got three stars for me.
Humans consider them merely intelligent animals. All except for the few humans who empathicly bond with treecats. They know treecats are as smart as people; but they hide it, because governments and laws are not ready to treat them as equal species.
That's only the setting. The plot revolves around an increasing number of serious accidents to otherwise healthy and mature people. The teens in the story have a club/secret society devoted to protecting treecats from harm. All the teens have bonded with treecats. They get involved in solving this mystery.
I love the treecat sections of the story, but the teen romantic entanglements I find boring. I realize this sets up future marriages later in the series, but I just don't care. That's why this is perhaps the first David Weber book that only got three stars for me.
April 4, 2023
2 authors I've greatly enjoyed previously took a vacation on this one. The reader is offered a group of teenage colonists, some psychically connected to an intelligent indigenous species--the treecats--whom they are attempting to protect from publicity/exploition until they can legally acquire dominion over the colony world they inhabit. In the meantime a nerdy mycologist/amateur chef has discovered that 2 native mushroom species can combine to produce an inhibition-erasing drug. Then some enterprising teenage boys begin selling the drug to their compatriots, attracting the attention of a druglord from a neighboring older colony planet, whose henchmen attack an investigative journalist compiling accident statistics while publicizing the treecats. As the nature-loving teens look into the deaths of their agemates, the book begins to resemble a cross between H. Beam Piper's LITTLE FUZZY & "Scooby-doo". Unfortunately, not recommended.
January 13, 2024
How Difficult?
I think Ms Lindskood had a Lot of input into this book. I've been reading David Weber since he was a pup (but then I had been reading Heinlein, Norton, et al, since I was a pup), and don't remember him ever being close to someone focused on the angst young people have while trying to grow into their adult appearing bodies.
If you're a hard core Weber/Harrington fan, this novel might confuse you a bit, but that shouldn't stop you from reading this. Rather, use it to look back on this period of time in your life when you knew everything. Pretty heavy, wasn't it?
My teenage grandchildren are so much more "Wise" than I am (especially my youngest granddaughter), but they cut me some slack because I'm old. If I had known as much about life then as I know about life now, I'd probably have been dangerous.
This book gets a strong recommend from me as a darn good "Coming of Age" novel.
I think Ms Lindskood had a Lot of input into this book. I've been reading David Weber since he was a pup (but then I had been reading Heinlein, Norton, et al, since I was a pup), and don't remember him ever being close to someone focused on the angst young people have while trying to grow into their adult appearing bodies.
If you're a hard core Weber/Harrington fan, this novel might confuse you a bit, but that shouldn't stop you from reading this. Rather, use it to look back on this period of time in your life when you knew everything. Pretty heavy, wasn't it?
My teenage grandchildren are so much more "Wise" than I am (especially my youngest granddaughter), but they cut me some slack because I'm old. If I had known as much about life then as I know about life now, I'd probably have been dangerous.
This book gets a strong recommend from me as a darn good "Coming of Age" novel.
December 18, 2024
Stone Shaper (Stone, Heart Stone, Athos) has survived a terrible plague while losing his mate and his ability to mindspeak his fellow treecats. Feeling guilt, he exiles himself from the Bright Water Clan. Despairingly, he waits until he can die and be with his mate again. But Fate has something else in store for him. When he witnesses a young woman and her Rottweiler being attacked by near-weasels, he feels compelled to save her if he can. What he receives is a bond which gives his life meaning again. This is the fourth book in the Treecat series. I enjoyed this and hope the authors will continue writing. There were a lot of good characters in here: Stephanie, Karl, Cordelia, the Kemper Boys, Climbs Quickly, Sings Truly, Valiant, Survivor, Heart Stone, etc. The plot line was unrealistic to me since the SFS (game wardens) would not likely have had civilian teenagers conducting an investigation. But who cares? The treecats earned their five stars.
July 15, 2025
Another fun installment in the story of Stephanie Harrington!
This time, the discovery of a mushroom native to Sphinx which has mood- and mind-altering properties threatens to injure or kill young people close to Steph and her friends.
The only thing about this novel which I found distracting was the name Steph and her friends coin for the new drug, baka bakari. They chose the name because it means "only fools" or "nothing but idiots" in Japanese, after the way it caused users to act stupidly and without caution.
The name itself isn't a problem, but the fact that everyone for the rest of the book use the entire term is. I can't think of another drug which is referred to its full name, particularly if it is multisyllabic. The fact that a shortened or slang version of it doesn't begin to be used was unrealistic and took me right out of the narrative each time.
It's a bit of a nitpick, but there's rarely even that in one of these books.
This time, the discovery of a mushroom native to Sphinx which has mood- and mind-altering properties threatens to injure or kill young people close to Steph and her friends.
The only thing about this novel which I found distracting was the name Steph and her friends coin for the new drug, baka bakari. They chose the name because it means "only fools" or "nothing but idiots" in Japanese, after the way it caused users to act stupidly and without caution.
The name itself isn't a problem, but the fact that everyone for the rest of the book use the entire term is. I can't think of another drug which is referred to its full name, particularly if it is multisyllabic. The fact that a shortened or slang version of it doesn't begin to be used was unrealistic and took me right out of the narrative each time.
It's a bit of a nitpick, but there's rarely even that in one of these books.
December 25, 2022
This story takes place on Sphinx where Stephanie Harrington and her friends and comrades in the Sphinx Rangers are investigating some odd accidents. Sphinx, being a higher than earth gravity planet, has some inherent dangers above the wildlife that lives there. There have been accidents amongst people who should be experienced in the higher gravity and who know the safety regulations including wearing an anti gravity device. But experienced people are having really dumb accidents. These are traced to a new drug. You will be introduced to some interesting people both human and tree cat. It is not necessary to have read the other books in this series though interesting incidents from them are mentioned. Also familiarity with the David Weber Honorverse universe helps even though the incidents in this book occur well before Honor Harrington enters the scene.
February 12, 2023
Exactly what I was in the mood for. I've been waiting for the next book in this series for quite a while, and I was happy to find it. It introduces cool new characters and has an interesting plot.
If I were giving notes, the treecat POVs become a lot less frequent toward the back third of the book, and the original main character felt a bit dragged back to the center, when I'd have been okay following the new ones as main characters for this one. There are also a lot of traditional white names. I kept getting Natalie and Cordelia mixed up. It has been long enough that I spent some amount of time going "who are you, again?" to a lot of the characters.
I am planning to reread the earlier novels now.
If I were giving notes, the treecat POVs become a lot less frequent toward the back third of the book, and the original main character felt a bit dragged back to the center, when I'd have been okay following the new ones as main characters for this one. There are also a lot of traditional white names. I kept getting Natalie and Cordelia mixed up. It has been long enough that I spent some amount of time going "who are you, again?" to a lot of the characters.
I am planning to reread the earlier novels now.
April 24, 2024
Tree Cars are adopting the settlers on Harrington's new planet. They like humans. They like the celery. And as often happens on a dangerous world where humans are trying to establish a hold in this world series where they do not just destroy what is there but learn to live with it, many bad incidents happen. So far most of the cats have been saved from harm or have been harmed while saving a human. This bonding method is the core of the new clan. While they remain part of their natural society, they are now a branch that lives and works with humans. Great development and I hope there are more filler stories that bridge Honor Harrington's time with that of her ancestor who first bonded.
January 30, 2025
This was a C+ grade book. While I can applaud the effort to create a tolerable example of police working on a drug case, that is NOT what this book was advertised as being. A NEW CLAN. What did almost ANY of it have to do with the treecat clans? Other than a little setup to justify using that title, it was almost NOT mentioned in the rest of the book. Further, I do NOT read scifi books in order to read a police procedural work. I do NOT care about that. I came to read a scifi book, not a cop book. Finally, and this is less important, the cover was mediocre. The treecat depicted on the cover looked like a standard Bengal tiger, with 6 appendages, which is not what the book described for treecats.
July 30, 2022
This was a great entry in the young adult series about treecats on the planet Sphinx. New characters are introduced. Heroine Stephanie steps outside her comfort zone in an undercover operation. She is slowly overcoming her impulsiveness and temper to become a more responsible person. Much of the story is told from a treecat’s perspective. Stone has survived a plague but lost his mate and his ability to telepathically communicate with other treecats. He bonds with a human, thus joining a new clan, that of treecats bonded to humans. His efforts to communicate with his human help him to live with being deaf and mute in his treecat clan.
May 5, 2025
I like this series for the characters and the eco-message, but it is a little long for a young adult book.
This book also tackles mind altering drugs as a subject in a very interesting way - not condemning the drugs themselves necessarily as something bad, but how humans react to and uses them.
It's also very interesting how communication especially with emotions plays a huge role because the Treecats are empaths and this plays into the target audience, that are young adults filled with lot of emotions.
Treecats are always adorable, but the plot I don't think can sustain this length if it were a 100 pages shorter it would for me be a 4-star read.
This book also tackles mind altering drugs as a subject in a very interesting way - not condemning the drugs themselves necessarily as something bad, but how humans react to and uses them.
It's also very interesting how communication especially with emotions plays a huge role because the Treecats are empaths and this plays into the target audience, that are young adults filled with lot of emotions.
Treecats are always adorable, but the plot I don't think can sustain this length if it were a 100 pages shorter it would for me be a 4-star read.
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