October 4 2011, Baen Books376 Pages, Hardcover
Purchased from Amazon
Stephanie Harrington
Young Adult
Stephanie Harrington absolutely hates being confined inside her family’s compound on the pioneer planet of Sphinx, a frontier wilderness world populated by dangerous native animals that could easily tear a human to bits and pieces. Yet Stephanie is a young woman determined to make discoveries—and the biggest discovery of all awaits her: an intelligent alien species.
Treecats are creatures that resemble a cross between a bobcat and a lemur (but with six legs and much more deadly claws). Not only are they fully sentient, they are also telepathic, and able to bond with certain gifted humans such as the genetically-enhanced Stephanie. But Stephanie’s find, and her first-of-its-kind bond with a treecat, brings on a new torrent of danger. An assortment of highly-placed enemies with galactic-sized wealth at stake is determined to make sure that the planet of Sphinx remains entirely in human hands—even if this means the extermination of another thinking species. Stephanie and Lionheart are about to undergo the greatest test two alien species can ever face together: how to survive first contact and win a future with liberty and justice for all!
The first entry in the Star Kingdom teen series and the origin saga for the incredibly-popular, multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling Honor Harrington adult science fiction adventures. Young Stephanie Harrington is none other than the founder of a pioneering family dynasty that is destined to lead the fight for humanity’s freedom in a dangerous galaxy.
I loved the ARC cover way more than I did the release cover!
Opinion:
If you like Sci-Fi where its more about the new world than it is about the technology then you will like this book. Also, if you aren’t normally a Sci-Fi YA reader but just a YA reader, give this one a try because I didn’t feel like it was hardcore science fiction at all – given that it could make for a smooth transition for you into a genre that you have yet to explore.
Stephanie Harrington is a smart alecky little girl with a lot of nerve. She likes to have her way, what person doesn’t, but she is good about finding ways to get it. Her family has just recently moved to a planet that is in it’s young stages of human colonization. The population there is still recovering from several bad bouts of a plague and her parents are much needed scientists. Due to that they are busy and don’t have a lot of time spend with her.
Fortunately, for Stephanie, she is a resourceful girl, unfortunately, that trait also seems to get her into a lot of trouble. One of the traits I liked about her was she listened to her parents, but if they didn’t specifically tell her no to something she would work her way around it without breaking the rules they had already set down for her. Trixy aye? I always like having enough rope to hang myself by…
The main reason I picked this book up was because of the description about the telepathic treecats. I love cats so I had to know more. This was written from mostly alternating perspectives of Stephanie and Climbs Quickly the treecat that Stephanie befriends. My enthusiasm about the treecats was not let down, they are an amazing species and I can’t wait to read the next to learn more about them. He has some pretty decent character building, and we see some nice descriptions about his species and community in general.
However, my biggest gripe is that after they become friends we don’t get enough of his perspective. I also, personally like the name ‘Climbs Quickly’ more than I did ‘Lionheart’ which is what Stephanie named him.
I really can’t think of anything else I didn’t like about this. The story had a surprising ending that I didn’t see coming and that for me is a major deal clincher on if I’ll pick up the next book – which of course I will.
On an additional note: this the first David Weber book I have ever read – but because of it I have already picked up his adult Sci fi title On Basilisk Station.
Rating:
Pabkins
Countess of Crazy, Insane babbler, Giver of the Evil Eye, Walking Hazard Zone, Maker of Monsters, but above all Lover of Zombies and those things that are creepy crawly. Step in to my library my pretties…
I love your rating system! I do like the ARC cover more...too.
ReplyDeleteOh I hadn't seen this new rating system til you pointed it out. Rie always has new little changes every week - its always fun to see what she'll come up with next. haha
ReplyDeleteOMG I love the rating system!! So cute. I would definitely pick this one up based on the telepathic treecats! How awesome is that. I also like the arc cover better too.
ReplyDeleteYes - definitely the ARC cover is so much better - sometimes I wonder why they decide to change!!
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