Fireseed One

Fireseed #1

by Catherine Stine

Fireseed One is a futuristic thriller that can be enjoyed by both teens and adults. The year is 2089. Temperate climate has replaced Arctic ice, and much of what is now the United States is a lethal Hotzone, cut off by an insurmountable border from its northern, luckier neighbors, Ocean and Land Dominion. It is rumored that roving Hotzone nomads will kill for a water pellet or a slice of insect loaf, and that the ZWC, a dangerous Hotzone activist group, has infiltrated the border to the northern Dominions. Up in Ocean Dominion, all eighteen year-old Varik Teitur wants is to party on SnowAngel Island with his friend Audun and flirt with college girls he dreams of joining next year in his quest to become a doctor. Instead, he inherits a vast sea farm, following the death of his father, famous marine biologist Professor Teitur. Five weeks later, ZWC member Marisa Baron breaks into the farm’s secret seed vault and a fellow activist poisons the farm’s agar crops, the world’s food source. In order to save the last agar seedlings Varik is forced to journey to the Hotzone in search of Fireseed, a plant his father supposedly developed with magical hybridization properties. Varik takes Marisa along. Aside from being a terrorist, she’s the daughter of Melvyn Baron, the biggest real estate mogul in Land Dominion, and the professor’s old rival. Oddly, she knows lots about Fireseed, and what Hotzone land Professor Teitur bought to test the crop, before becoming embittered and trashing the project. No one except Varik knows whether Fireseed once existed off the drawing board. Might the refugees in Vegas-by-the-Sea have answers, or the bizarre Fireseed cult in the Chihuahua desert? Varik, the reluctant hero, must risk burning in the Hotzone, as his mother did, to save the ailing agar, and the world. Praise for Fireseed “Extraordinary thriller with a fascinating setting and rich, engaging characters who feel recognizable and human.” –Katia Lief, international bestselling author of You Are Next and Soul Catcher "Fully imagined, fast-paced, and thoroughly captivating, Catherine Stine's Fireseed One sucks you into its fascinating world on page one and doesn't let go until the very end." –Dale Peck, award-winning author of Sprout and The Drift House series “FIRESEED is so full of startling ideas that I couldn't stop reading! Recommended for fans of science fiction, thrillers, or for anyone looking for a story full of big surprises.” -- Amy Kathleen Ryan, author of Glow, the first novel in The Sky Chasers series “Action, adventure, love, and loss plus superb world building all adds up to an incredibly imaginative story – one that should not be missed.” -Carolyn MacCullough, author of Once a Witch and Always a Witch *Illustrated by the Author

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Futuristic, Fantasy, Amazon, Romance

296 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 2010

About the author

Catherine Stine is a USA Today bestselling author of urban, paranormal and historical fantasy. Her novels have earned Indie Notable awards and New York Public Library Best Books. Catherine's newest historical fantasy, Witch of the Wild Beasts, was a second prize winner in the Romance Writers' Sheila Contest.

She loves spending time with her beagle, writing about supernatural creatures, gardening on her deck, and meeting readers at book events. Catherine suspects her love of dark fantasy came from her father reading Edgar Allen Poe to her when she was a child.

Reviews

[Alex Bennett]

I’m not a fan of science fiction. However, that didn’t stop me from enjoying Fireseed One immensely. Because even though it is sci-fi—heavily so—it was an action-packed, emotional thrill ride that made me forget about the genre, and instead focus on the characters and their journey.

Fireseed One is based in a highly imaginative futuristic world where land is a desert wasteland, and people have chosen to build their lives on and around the water to survive. Everything is barren and dry, and there is little hope. However, Varik, the protagonist of Fireseed One, just may hold the key to survival of the human race.

Catherine Stine’s writing was able to hook me at the beginning of Fireseed One and kept my attention throughout the novel. There really wasn’t a dull moment in this book, and when I wasn’t reading it, I wanted to be. There are twists and turns around every corner, and Stine really throws some surprises in there!

Varik was a strong, relatable protagonist. He was the perfect troubled hero, really. He had a big weight on his shoulders, and through it all I didn’t get bothered with him very much at all. Marisa is probably my favorite character in Fireseed One. You never really know where she truly stands, and she definitely keeps you guessing. In the end, I enjoyed reading about most of the characters in Fireseed One.

Even if you’re not a sci-fi fan, I think a lot of people would find pleasure in Fireseed One. I was not expecting to like it at all when I first read it, and ended up wanting more when I finished. You might be taking a chance on this one, but trust me, it’s worth it.

[M. Pax · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby’s Fire is a fantastic story and one I keep thinking about. I keep thinking about Ruby and her brother and those incredible plants Catherine invented.
Ruby is a character with issues and talents. Her talent for mixing natural substances leads to her problem of habitual usage of a mixture that helps her sleep.
Events in her life feed that need for escape, and that’s how the story opens, with the physical need to escape a horrible future. Risking all, Ruby grabs her little brother and heads out into the unknown.
Most of the world around her is desolate, barren, and harsh.
She ends up in a place where she and her brother can learn and grow alongside the Fireseed plants and other outcasts.
I looked forward to reading this story every evening, and only the need for sleep made me put it down. Ruby’s Fire is a complete delight. I’d give this book six stars if I could. It definitely earns a five star plus rating.
Don’t miss out!

[Lee (Rally the Readers) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also posted on Rally the Readers.

I really like the idea of futuristic worlds, especially the technology they feature because I’m such a tech geek. What I don’t like as much is when a book with this type of setting gets bogged down by scientific details and draws all of the focus away from the plot and the characters. Fortunately, Fireseed One achieves a good balance between providing enough specifics about the world to draw your interest in and help you get a grasp of its workings without overwhelming you with too much information on sea farming and plant hybridization. These aren’t subjects that I’d normally find heart-pounding to read about on their own, but the way they were incorporated into the story here made them rather interesting.

The world of Fireseed One is quite unique; there aren’t any others that I can readily compare it to. There are three territories—Ocean Dominion, Land Dominion, and the Hotzone. The further south one travels from Ocean Dominion toward the Hotzone, the higher the temperatures soar. Special heat-protective clothing needs to be worn to avoid burns. The climate up in Ocean Dominion, where Varik, the protagonist, lives, is the most comfortable, but to avoid an influx of people pouring in there, guarded borders separate the three areas. Many refugees live in the Hotzone, and they must rely on food shipments to trickle down to them. The Zone Warrior Collective (ZWC) is an organization that tries to draw attention to the refugees’ plight, but it does so through what are essentially acts of eco-terrorism.

I thought this world had a very realistic feel to it. We’re all familiar with the dangers that polluted oceans, climate shifts, and melting polar ice caps pose, and the book portrays a future resulting from them going unchecked that is all too plausible. The book also features some very cool technology, though I’m not sure how I’d like the news transmitted directly into my head.

I was happy to see that the characters were just as fleshed out as the world was. With his irrepressible charm, Varik’s friend, Audun, was a hoot. I also really liked Rain and Armonk, a mother and son whom Varik meets in the Hotzone. Their kindness forces Varik to rethink everything his father ever told him about Zone refugees. There are several layers to the novel, from the environmental extremes to the food shortage to Varik seeing firsthand that not all refugees are savage criminals. But the element of the story that I found most compelling was two characters’ journeys to step out of the shadows cast by their fathers’ reputations.

Varik’s father was a highly regarded marine biologist, and his death left his son in charge of a sea farming operation that Varik wasn’t exactly enthused about having to take over. Varik performs his duties, but his heart isn’t in them like his father’s was. Dr. Teitur’s legacy looms large, but as the novel goes on and Varik risks his life to find the plant that could save the population, he forges a legacy of his own. Varik’s traveling companion to the Hotzone, Marisa Baron, also has a well-known father, although “infamous” might be a better way to describe Melvyn Baron and his highly questionable business practices. As a member of the ZWC, Marisa is literally quite the rebel, and she and Varik have a memorable first encounter—he catches her stealing from the Teitur underwater seed vault. The pair understandably get off to a tumultuous start. I liked Varik from the beginning; I had a lot of sympathy for him because he had to step in for his father and was suddenly awash in so many responsibilities. I needed some time to get used to Marisa, though; initially she came off as a belligerent fanatic, but she does grow significantly by the end of the book. Her desire to help the refugees is sincere and not merely an act of rebellion against her father and everything his wealth represents.

Fireseed One was quite different from what I usually read, and that’s what made it so intriguing. There’s also a fair amount of action, from Varik busting Marisa mid-robbery to their venture into hostile ZWC turf to their scary encounter with a Fireseed-worshipping cult. I was absorbed by Varik and Marisa’s race against time to find a new food supply, and the book didn’t disappoint in keeping the tension high.

[Nicole M. Hewitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction

I bought this book because I needed to review Ruby's Fire for a blog tour and I read that it was a sequel to Fireseed One. Even though I read that Ruby's Fire could be easily read as a standalone book, I really prefer to read books in a series in order and not skip past books. It's just a hangup I have. I'm glad that I did because I really enjoyed Fireseed One and I felt like it definitely enhanced my reading of Ruby's Fire.

I'm not going to describe much about the plot because the synopsis does a pretty good job of that. Instead, I'll just get right to what I did and didn't like.

What I wasn't crazy about:
The romance.
While I didn't dislike the romance, I just didn't feel like I completely believed it. I never felt the connection between Varik and Marisa and Varik seemed to trust and forgive Marisa just a little too easily. The romance was just a small part of the book, though, so this didn't take away from the book too terribly much.

The pacing?
It took me a little while to get excited about the plot of this book. For the first third or so of the book, I wasn't super-engaged. I definitely didn't dislike it - I just wasn't jumping up and down, wondering what was going to happen next. I can't exactly tell you why this was - perhaps it was the pacing or perhaps I just wasn't emotionally invested in Varik yet (the book is told from Varik's perspective). Or, it might be that the book felt a little bit more like sci-fi to me than dystopian or fantasy (this was just a feeling - again, something I can't exactly explain - maybe because the world was so foreign that I almost felt like the story was taking place on another planet?). After the first third of the book, though, the plot really picked up for me.

What I loved:
The world building.
I think this might have been one of the most unique dystopian/fantasy/sci fi type worlds that I've seen. Not only has the climate changed immensely, but those climate changes have changed society in major ways, from the clothes people wear, to the houses they live in, to the foods they eat, to their religions. It felt truly futuristic in many ways. This is not just a dystopian idea bandaged over our version of Earth - it felt like something entirely new. Stine created a very unique, very well-thought-out world that was enchanting.

The illustrations.
I was so surprised the first time I came across an illustration in the book! I mean, when was the last time you read a YA book with illustrations? The ones in this book were great fun and really helped you to picture this crazy and amazing world that Stine created. They were especially wonderful because Stine did the illustrations herself - so you knew that you were seeing exactly what she was imagining! I only wished there were more of them!

The secondary characters.
I loved that the secondary characters like Nevada and, especially, Varik's best friend Audun were really fun and well-written.

I really enjoyed Fireseed One and would highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates fantastic world building. I would also recommend it to anyone interested in reading Ruby's Fire (which I actually enjoyed even more than this book!). 3.5/5 Stars.

[Michael Offutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book pretty quickly. It's told in first person from the perspective of a guy named Varik. When we first meet him, we discover through his own eyes and thoughts that he's got a lot of chips on his shoulder with regard to the death of his father and eco terrorists. But as the story progresses, and he is confronted by the awful living conditions of those in the rest of the world, he grows to not only understand the important legacy left behind by his genius father, but how he alone can now change the world. Oh and Varik finds love in the most unlikely of places.

The world of "Fireseed One" is carefully crafted by Ms. Stine. It is Earth, but hardly recognizable because the world has gone through an ecological Armageddon. The world's population does not have enough of the things that you and I would take for granted: clean water, food, shelter, and medicine. The rich seem to fare much better than most, and even in Las Vegas (which is now beach front property because California is gone), people walk around in suits that both protect them from the sun's rays, but are still fashionable with fins and projectiles coming off the garments. Strange, right?

But I kind of liked it. There is no swearing in this book. Stine goes the route of Battlestar Galactica and substitutes words like "frying" for the much spoken "f-bomb." I think I would have preferred some "f-bombs" myself, but whatever. "Fireseed One" is essentially squeaky clean with no sex (just a little talk about it), no real violence (a lot of intense talking and one dude gets his nose broke), no real villain, and no real "risks". The plot is pretty straight forward. Varik needs to find Fireseed (a plant that can grow without water, combine with other plants making them prolific, and be a huge food source).

He goes on a journey that takes him here and there and with the lovely Marisa (an eco-terrorist that he grows to love), they find Fireseed and everyone lives happily ever after (well Varik has a plant growing out of his arm, and I have no idea where that's going).

The tension in the book comes from putting the characters continuously at risk in their environment: lack of water, burning up because of severe sun exposure (the atmosphere no longer adequately shields the land from the deadly sun's rays), having to eat food made from beetles...basically the stuff you get by watching Bear Grylls "Man vs. Wild" only without the infamous Bear Grylls bat guano enema.

I think the things I liked most about this book are Catherine's incredible interior illustrations, the world-building, and the hard science that made me appreciate the astounding amount of research she went to in writing this book. Stine never runs out of clever ideas. The idea of a genetically rugged plant like Fireseed is clever. So are fish growing from vines. And the different zones on Earth are also clever (as well as the Streamarazzi-think paparazzi but with a cooler name).

I recommend this book highly to young readers eager to explore safe science fiction without the risk of scary monsters, violence, swearing, sex, or basically anything adult.

[Stephen Graff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A THOROUGHLY ENTERTAINING PAGE TURNER

Catherine Stine's dystopian novel FIRESEED ONE immediately pulls the reader into a strange, new world. The description of the setting--from the physical architecture of it to the natural land and seascapes--is itself compelling enough that it drives the story. I could see it in the next James Cameron film and, as setting is so important to a good dystopian story, it helps to set up the turning points in this novel. It also helps that Ms. Stine is an accomplished illustrator. Her visual depictions are shown throughout the novel. Good science fiction explores how technology will change. Some writers get too caught up in the details. Stine's descriptions are, just by themselves, worth reading and could be another book. She's clearly done her homework in researching how society might create food for itself in the event of environmental collapse. The classic dystopian elements are also in place. It's a world at war between the have and have nots. A place where authority hovers like an ominous shadow.

Like those imaginative science fiction masters Heinlein, Asimov, and D'Engle, Ms. Stine provides a techno-cool descriptive language interlaced with darkly humorous satiric asides to present this ravaged world, fighting environmental devastation. Human inhabitants struggle to survive, but many intrepid characters have managed to make out pretty well despite the harsh climates and rash of invasive species. Varik is the young narrator/protagonist, a young man still recovering from the mysterious death of his father. As the novel begins, he is attacked by a strange young woman, Marisa. He manages to capture and imprison her, and he is now trying to figure out who she is. Good writers are always careful to reveal just enough information and Stine understands this. There is a always a sense of mystery throughout. We can identify with Varik. What he doesn't know, we also don't know. And what he wants to find out, we also want to find out. We also want to know who Marisa is in the classic tradition of noir and detective books. Is she working for the enemy, the terrorists who may have killed Varik's father? Is she in love with their leader? Is she falling for Varik? This combination of attention to the right kind of detail and letting the story drive itself is the inner strength of FIRESEED ONE. As the novel progresses, the stakes get higher and the central mysteries--including the search for the key to the planet's survival, Fireseed One--deepen.

I was completely transported into the setting, taken aback by the boldness of the writing, and pulled along by a story that revealed itself in pieces--so that by the end the pieces could be assembled by a careful reader. A great reading choice for fans of science and dystopian fiction, and general readers looking for a literary work that is, at the same time, a thoroughly entertaining page turner.

[Beverly McClure · Rating 5 out of 5]

FIRESEED ONE
By Catherine Stine
Illustrated by Catherine Stine


Sometimes the people we know are not who we think they are, even if they’re our parents. Sometimes our worst enemy turns out to be the person we care about the most. Life changes, and we often find ourselves having to make tough decisions. In Author Catherine Stine’s young adult novel, Fireseed One, eighteen-year-old Varik faces challenges he never dreamed of when he inherits a sea farm after his father’s death. Since his mother was murdered years earlier, Varik is now left alone to carry on the important business of growing food for people in many of the sectors of Ocean Dominion that depend on the produce from Varik’s farm.

Problems plague him from the start, and he soon finds himself on a mission with Marissa, a thief, to discover the whereabouts of his father’s pet project, Fireseed One, that could save the world from starvation. As the two teens search not only for the plants but for answers to questions about their families, their relationship changes from hostile and distrustful to the beginnings of love. A gentle love story between two former enemies is just the right touch for Catherine Stine‘s futuristic adventure. The author has developed a world with familiar places, like Kansas, Vegas, Black Hills, that now are so hot people must wear special suits to survive, and also new places under the sea where most of the world’s food is grown. It makes me wonder if someday our major food sources might come from the sea. An interesting thought.

The author’s illustrations complement the writing, giving the reader a glimpse into Varik’s and Marissa’s lives. I especially like the little fellow on page 245. What is it? You’ll have to read the book to see. The characters have faults like real people, which makes them more human. You’ll want to help them each time they face danger and decisions, at least I did. I recommend Fireseed One for science fiction lovers, adventure lovers, and readers who enjoy young romance. The book would be a great addition to middle school and high school libraries, too. The novel ends with another dilemma for Varik to solve that, in my opinion, is very creative. I just hope book two comes out soon.

###

[Betty Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Try to imagine a world where global warming has gotten so bad that planet earth is almost uninhabitable below the US-Canadian border, with high temperatures exceeding 135 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Fortunately, the polar region has mild weather and people live either on houseboats or on now-liveable Arctic islands like Vostok and Svalbard. This is the Sea Dominion. It's also rather nice in Canada, now known as the Land Dominion. But below the Land D is the Hotzone, where daily life is a struggle to evade the intense heat. Some Hotzone residents try to escape over the Berlin-wall like barrier that separates the Hotzone from Land D.

Is this world a utopia or a dystopia? It depends on whom you ask. Varik, son and heir to a polar floating agar farm, has it pretty good, considering agar is a main source of food and other products for both dominions. Marisa Barone, daughter of a real estate developer, also has it pretty good.

But if you live in the Hotzone, it's a tough life. Daytime temperatures can kill you. Hotzone residents -- the few that haven't died -- stay indoors and only come out at night, when the children forage for beetles with long sticks, and insect meat loaf is the result. It's alleged to be delicious once you get used to the idea. Hotzone residents who try to escape to the North had earned the derogatory nickname "refs," not only for themselves but for all Hotzone residents.

That's the setup. Marisa has seen how poorly paid her father's Hotzone origin workers are, and her cause is to get Varik and others like him to share their agrotechnology with the Hotzone people, the "refs" he despises. They begin as enemies, and how they become friends is one the most convincing and satisfying features of this tightly written, skillfully paced Young Adult sci-fi novel.

The unlikely pair bond while on a seemingly quixotic mission to find a living specimen of an experimental plant called Fireseed which can grow in any environment and cross-pollinated with practically anything. Do they find it? I don't put spoilers in my reviews, but if your curiosity has been provoked, prepare yourself for a fast paced adventure through a bizarre and forbidding but fascinating science-fictional environment.

[Paige Bradish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I was a little afraid that I wouldn’t end up liking this book but the more that I read the more that I loved it. The book was a little out of my comfort zone being a book about weird plants in the future well that’s not what they book is about but it’s a pretty big part of the story. Now I know what your thinking a book about plants yeah right but it’s so much more then that!

Now for the characters we have the main character Varik (They have some cool names in the future) Varik is an 18 year old who grows up apart of his dads plant business but it’s not just a plant business these plants feed the whole world. Ahh now you see why there so important. Varik’s dad dies and he needs to take over but soon after his dad dies all the crops to feed the world have died and he has to figure out why. Now on his little journey he takes the girl that breaks into his fathers vault Marisa.

Marisa is the enemy at first she is against everything that Varik is about. She is apart of the ZWC which plans to steel some plant seeds so that they can have more food then they’re getting. But their plan goes wrong because even though they steel the discs Marisa still gets caught. Along this journey Varik and Marisa start to warm up to each other. Varik starts to trust her and they start to fall in love. I’m glad they fell in love by the way because opposites definitely attract!

Varik is a strong independent guy who is sensitive but also he’s able to stand up for himself and those he loves. He just wants to help people he never wanted to be apart of his dads business but found himself right in the middle of it because of his fathers death. Marissa the same way doesn’t want to be apart of her fathers business she hates him but the only difference is she gets away goes off and does her own things learns her own lessons which is why her and Varik get together in the end.

Overall I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. It was a beautifully written book and I can’t wait to see more of these characters in future books. I recommend this story to anyone who likes I think Science Fiction and Fantasy! It’ll really make your head spin in a good way!

[Alison DeLuca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fireseed gripped me from the start. Stine introduced the action, the concept, and the characters right away, and I loved all of them. Varik, the son of an agar farmer who has to shoulder responsibilities too large for anyone, let alone an adolescent, is strong and intelligent. More than that - he is REAL. He makes bad decisions and gets crushes, and I thoroughly related to him right away.

Marisa, the girl who breaks into the precious seed discs that keep Varik's agar farm going, is also real. Yes, she is beautiful with long, red hair and a gorgeous figure. yes, she is rich, and she is also brave and intelligent. But she also makes mistakes, and it is those fatal flaws that make her and Varik so human. Marisa has been "seduced" (in every sense of the word) by a political group. This compels much of the action.

No one, except for Varik, realizes how important the seed discs and the agar crop are. When the whole farm nearly is destroyed, it puts the entire world in jeopardy of starvation, since food no longer grows in the "Hot Zone" which is most of the US.

Varik's father developed something called Fireseed years before the action begins, and it is this mysterious plant that Marisa is after. When the farm is nearly shut down, Fireseed becomes the last hope for the human race.

This may sound very serious and grand-scheme, but Stine also focuses on the relationship between Varik and Marisa, which is touching and also very real. The arcs of the story ebb and flow perfectly, like the waves around Varik's farm, and I breathlessly followed all of them.

Add to this Stine's lovely prose, and the book is very compelling. I had to ration it out because I loved reading it so much, but at the end I just couldn't stop.

Beyond that, in this installment Stine has presented a complete adventure. However, at the end, there is a twist that makes me long for the next book. That is a very difficult thing to do, and the writer has pulled it off brilliantly.

I highly recommend Fireseed One.

[Aliya DalRae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received Fireseed One from a Goodreads giveaway - Thanks!

Let me start by saying, I really enjoyed this book. The characters were likable (or not, as required) and easy to care about, and the world created by Cahterine Stine was absolutely remarkable. A futuristic tale of an Earth where the polar caps have melted, leaving the States and areas southward nearly uninhabitalbe, with temps soaring in the mid to upper 100's. Man has adapted, though, learning to grow engineered crops on man-made farming "islands" in the northern oceans. Varik has recently inherited his family's farm after the untimely death of his father, only to wake up one day and find that he's being robbed of the world's seed cache. He catches the thief - the fetching Marisa Baron, only to have her tell him that everything his father had taught him about the vicious refugees from the Hot Zone, were, if not altogether lies, than at least strongly affected by the death of Varik's mother at the hands of one of them.

When the entire crop of the world's main foodsource suddenly dies, it's up to Varik and his thief to travel to the Hot Zone and find a mystical plant that Varik's father had been working on - one that could not only sustain life without water and withstand incredible heat, but also that could crossbreed with any plant, making that plant heartier and more durable in the new climate of the world, thus saving the world - all of it - from starvation.

Fast paced, page-turning fun, with suspense, love and intrigue. The last three pages left me with my mouth hanging open and the words - "un-uhhhhhh" falling out as I desperately searched for more pages that, alas, were not to be found. Total shocker - can't wait to see what happens next!

[Ezmirelda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fireseed One starts off with the protagonist Varik, a boy who has recently lost his father and has a lot on his plate. The story’s action starts off when Varik discovers a strange girl trying to steal seed disks. He catches her before she can get away, holds her captive, and tries to find out more about her. They go on an adventure to search for a hybrid plan through the hot zone, facing many obstacles along the way.

I thought the whole plot of Fireseed One an extremely clever one. The adventure, the romance, and the amazing world building. The world presented is incredible! This sci-fi world is created before your very eyes and suddenly it feels like you’re in a whole other universe, or a whole other earth. The descriptions needed to make the world come to life work are very well balanced with the rest of the story so it’s not overbearing like in other sci-fi novels. The relationship between Marisa and Varik is so sweet! Even in the beginning I thought the two were a great match for each other.

Overall, I really enjoyed Fireseed One! It’s really different from my usual read so I’m glad that I got a chance to read it. Fireseed One rejuvenated my interest in the Sci-Fi genre. It’s engaging characters and the imaginative world pulls the reader in and doesn’t let them back out until the very last page. I highly recommend this book to those who love sci-fi and those who want to try something new and engaging.

[S.A. Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale of a futuristic world, where land and water battle against the odds and each other in order to survive.

Despite being out of my regular scope of interest, I enjoyed this story. There was life and emotion throughout the plot, which melded nicely with the subplots. The writer's word choices were appropriate and flowed from one chapter to the next. I really liked how the information about the world, inhabitants, and conflicts were released to the reader. It made sense and was quite plausible.

My absolute favorite part of this story was the point of view--a male voice. The world-building is seen through Varik's eyes, which puts a unique spin on what and how the reader will ingest and relate to the story itself. I believe that is partly the reason this tale will be as attractive to teen boys and girls. The level of adventure is also a big plus. There is always something new happening, giving the author the opportunity to hone more of this world and reveal it to the reader.

Both Varik and Marisa have inner demons that keep them locked up in prejudices and preconceived notions. The mystery of the Fireseed and their struggle to find it is the road to their personal growth. This is a great parallel to real life, which most teens (as well as adults) can relate to.

[Damali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Futuristic world where the temperature gets close to 200 degrees and people have to wear protective clothing. The only available food is grown on sea farms and rationed to the rest of the world. Varik inherited a sea farm from his genius inventor father. He grows Agar, which can be used for anything from building material to food. When his farm is sabotaged, he's forced to travel to the Hotzone -- once known as the United States -- to search for the fabled Fireseed plant that will hopefully solve the world's food shortage problem. And he has to travel with an enemy.

This was suprisingly good! Can't wait for the sequel. And I usually don't approve of illustration in novels, but these didn't bother me. They were very well done and drawn by the author.

[Allison Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Catherine Stine has a wonderful knack of creating believeable twists and turns all thruogh the book there was even a point where I said out loud "really?" because I thought those poor kids couldn't take anymore. But they did! I loved the interaction between Varik and Marissa it was believable and endearing. The imagery was beautiful and well described and the illustrations just took it to an even better level. Once I started this book I didn't want to put it down, it was an easy flowing, interesting, intriguing, exciting imaginary world in which I found myself contemplating wanting to live there. If you like sci-fi or don't I highly recommend this book.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to get into this book but I was really impressed and actually liked reading this.

[Yvonne Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a book for me but sure younger adults would enjoy

[Mrs L · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story along the lines of Maze Runner, Divergent and Hunger Games. Set in a Dystopian future where the divide between rich and poor is decided upon where you live and the natural resources available. Varik is a sea farmer, he took over the farm after his father's sudden death. When he finds some of his seed stock missing, and a thief still in the vault, he embarks on a journey with the thief to find out the truth behind his father's death, where the seeds have been taken and by whom and why.
No one is quite who they seem, and enemies seem to be everywhere. But with world food stocks at stake, Varik must persevere and trust those who seem least trustworthy.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was extremely confused for way too long in this book. If Stine had explained this world in which her story takes place a little bit, maybe things wouldn't have been so bad.
I wasn't overly impressed with aNY of the characters or the plot. Once I kind of grasped what was going on, things became very predictable.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled to get into this story and for me, it took a long time to read because it just didn't capture my interest. The premise of the story is strong but I just couldn't relate to the main characters.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast read

Good characters, action. Ending was a little strange but liked it overall. Will try 2nd book also blah blah blah.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally intriguing and gripping. Feels realistic. A world devastated by global warming. What’s to be done. Can’t wait for the next one.

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into when I agreed to read Fireseed One. All I knew was that it sounded really interesting, and I’ve wanted to jump-start my fantasy reads for a long time now. So I am very happy to say that I really enjoyed Fireseed One, and was really impressed with the author, Catherine Stine.
Fireseed One takes place in a future world. Global warming has taken place, and everything is far from perfect. People are quite literally burning to death from heat levels way above normal, and most are starving. It was a sad look on just what could happen to the world, and I really enjoyed reading about a future that wasn’t so bright, like most futuristic books will have you believe.
I loved the illustrations in this novel. I liked that the author not only showed you in words what things looked like, but showed you with actual images. They were often beautiful (just like the book’s cover), or kind of freaky (which was intended). Either way, I loved them, and got excited whenever an image showed up on the page.
Our hero, Varik, was a nice character to read about. It is not often that I read YA books from the male perspective, and when I do, I am always a little let down. That is not the case with Fireseed One. Varik was interesting, semi-witty, and although he could sometimes start to fade into the background of forgettable characters, he always redeemed himself, and I liked him.
Our heroine, Marisa, was nice, too. I didn’t really like her at first, but she grew on me.
She was strong, brave about most things, and really out there. I like a girl who can speak her mind.
Varik’s friend, Audun, was easily my favorite character. I loved how witty and loyal he was, and I was sad he was absent for most of the middle and end of the book.

Fireseed One is a true fantasy-adventure! It grabbed me from the first chapter and didn’t let go. I was always left wanting more at the end of each chapter, and I was forced to read well into the night because of this book. I love when that happens. It was thrilling, exciting, and an overall great story. Catherine Stine is a wonderful story teller, and I enjoyed her writing style greatly.
My only complaint is the relationship between Varik and Marisa. I didn’t understand it.
Sure—every book needs a little romance, and don’t get me wrong; Fireseed One did not overdo the romance—but I just wasn’t feeling it. It seemed to me that one minute, Varik really disliked Marisa (and for good reason, too!) and then the next—he was kissing her! I must have missed the sudden growth of feelings between them, but still. I would have liked for them to get to know each other a bit more before that happened.
Also, some of the dialogue was kind of awkward, or just over the top. Varik often said things that I would have expected Marisa to say, because, well… she’s a girl. Needless to say, Varik could say some pretty funny things.

Overall, Fireseed One will have you on the edge of your seat, cheering for these characters every step of the way. It won’t let you go until the last page, and will leave you wondering just what will happen next. Even now, the story is still fresh in my mind, and refusing to let go!
If you’re a fan of fantasy that isn’t over the top, action-adventure with a bit of romance—read this book. You won’t be sorry. Catherine Stine is an author to look out for, and shines brightly with this stunning thriller.

“There’s only so far you can pry into someone’s soul before they protest. But I have to say Marisa builds her walls faster than anyone I’ve ever met, and, as close as I’ve gotten to her, it still brings me down.” –Fireseed One

[Nickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Fireseed One' is set in a future where mankind is finally seeing the horrible results of pollution and global warming. The 'haves' live in Land Dominion or Ocean Dominion, colonies set up far north where temperatures are still reasonable. The 'have nots' live in the barren deserts and wastelands in the southern parts of the world, burned and killed by the harsh sun and high temperatures.

Eighteen year old Varik has dreams of going to college when his father, an agar farmer, dies unexpectedly in a diving accident. He's left to take over the farm, one of the few ocean farms that produces food for most of the world.

Until a group of eco-terrorists poison the agar plants and steal Varik's seed reserve. The world's food supply is dwindling rapidly, and Varik must find a way, any way, to find a cure for the agar blight.



What I liked about this story:

This is one of the best examples of excellent sci-fi world building that I've come across. Stine does an excellent job extrapolating modern technology and problems in our lives today into a futuristic setting. For those who don't follow this sort of thing, agar is a seaweed derivative and is already widely used as an additive in commercial food production. It's completely believable to picture a future where seaweed and sea based plants become an important source of food.

Again, for people who aren't into farming/botany, there's also a few seed vaults that store every plant we grow today. If there were a serious blight in a food crop, scientists would be able to modify our current seeds with those resistant to various diseases. Varik's vault is another realistic extension of these modern day facilities.

On top of the world building, Stine has a fast paced plot that pulled me through the novel. I found myself flipping through this book quickly, reading to see what happened next.

The supporting characters, like Audun and Nevada, also shine. I loved reading Audun's character arc, and the conniving ways he helps Varik on his quest to save the food supply.



What I didn't like about this story:

In a word, Marissa. In a couple of words:

Marissa is one of the eco-terrorists that attacks Varik's farm. He catches her, and they band together to try to save the food supply.

But. But. Marissa is honestly too obnoxious to live. By all rights, she should have been killed by the end of chapter 4 (I'm pretty sure I would have given her concrete shoes and dumped her in the ocean -- does that make me a bad person?). There's no logical explanation as to why Varik decides to work with her -- she's rude, arrogant, self-righteous, and heck, a little violent.

Oh, wait, but she's a cute girl. *Sigh* I had a hard time understanding her relationship with Varik, and why he chose to keep her alive. Even more, I didn't understand why he chose to trust her as quickly as he did. She doesn't to much to earn either his trust or respect.




Final Verdict:

Pretend Marissa's not there for the first four chapters, and that Varik meets her randomly somewhere else. Then enjoy a four star sci-fi book! Overall, I really enjoyed this story, even in spite of my deep distaste for Marissa. Well worth the $2.99 for my Kindle copy.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

FIRESEED ONE BY CATHRINE STINE



I received a free copy of this book from the site netgalley in exchange for my unbiased review .


ABOUT: The year is 2089 and the world has turned into two different places ,a cold climate on a sea of ocean dominion and a place called the hotzone where temperatures reach over 160 degrees .Those who live in the ocean dominion have made their living off the sea featuring kelp and agar which is the most sustainable source of food shelter clothing and transportation they farm these plants and they are shipped all over the world . The hot zone is an entirely different story they live off beetles, water pellets if they can get them and wander the scorching dry land in search of shelter and refuge from the heat because of their dire situation the people in the hot zone also knows as refugees of refs for short have been rioting and murdering for years so ocean dominion put up a barrier that stretches the expanse of both territories . to keep refs from coming over and plundering ocean dominions supplies . A boy named Varik soon finds himself in the center of it all he inherited his fathers ocean plant farm when his father was found dead underneath the waves tangled in invasive plants by there underwater vault that contain seed disks which are basically disc that contains the seeds needed to grow more plants at their different ocean farms wen Varik catches a thief plundering there underwater seed disk vault who claims to be working to help the refs and only has the best intention's he has to decide whether to turn her over to the authorities or believe her and join the fight .



What I liked : I have always been obsessed with the ocean so I was excited when I started reading this book and it was mostly about people who live in a world surrounded by water .This book was extremely interesting with the ideas about different ocean plant life evolved sea creatures and the way that the water was toxic so if you went in the water you had to wear a dive suit .I was also loving the way that the author created the plant and farming systems it was fascinating to picture what life would be like living in that world as a farmer or a marine biologist . This book was wonderfully written and I could picture the description's in my mind .I was happy with the story line and flow of this book. Anyone who likes ocean or sea futuristic stories this book has it all .


Good news this book is available now on amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Fireseed-One-C...

Catherine Stine is on blogger too !

http://catherinestine.blogspot.com/

thanks for reading !

[Katherine Paschal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can I just mention that the updated cover is so pretty and much better than the older cover with the people on it. And not to sound like a cover snob, but I probably would not have picked this book to read if I had seen the original cover. Also, the book blurb I read was concise and interesting, but when I looked the book on Goodreads I was blown away by the book description. It was long winded and did not really sound like the book that I had just read about, but yes, it was the same book. It is amazing how a new cover and cute little book blurb can really change perspective.

Here is the original cover:

See?? The new cover is soo pretty, and I guess this makes me a cover snob :(

I really enjoy fantasy stories that drop the reader right into the middle of things, without the slow building of the world first to bore me. Learning about the world as I read about what the characters is doing helps me to stay engaged and interested in the book. Unfortunately, I never fully grasped what was going on in this story. I kept on plugging through (as is my way, much to my friends disgust), but at some moments the words I read did not even comprehend in my brain. To put it mildly, I was lost by this book. I am a huge urban fantasy and paranormal reader, but maybe this was a little too fantasy for me. Almost nothing about the story was familiar or recognizable in the book, except that there were people (aka Varik the main character who seemed like a really nice guy), a dolphin (the best part of the story), greed and maybe they were still on earth (but that is debatable). The thing most talked about and seemingly prized in the book was agar, which is something that I use in my science labs to grow things (such as bacteria) on, but I don’t even know if this is supposed to be the same agar as that. In case you can’t tell by my ramblings, I was really lost here. That being said, I am sure that a lot of people will really like this complicated involved world, it just was not for me. Give it a whirl if you are looking for a new fantasy book to be submerged in (ha, I thought that was applicable pun since they use water crafts...).

I received this title from the publisher in return for my honest review.

[Donna Galanti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fireseed One is a captivating thriller set in a futuristic, toxic world teetering on chaos and crisis. Danger, loss, love, and redemption all tie together with rich characters to make for one imaginative blast.

Varik, a young man struggling to manage his family’s farm alone after his father’s death, finds himself thrust into a deadly mission to save the world’s future food source. It gets worse for him. He must do it with his father’s arch enemy’s daughter, Marisa, who wants to save the world’s food now – not later. Sworn enemies caught together in a quest to save the world, they must trust each other against instinct.

Stine creates a believable place full of dark wonder where one crop item is utilized to feed, clothe, and shelter the world. Now its extinction looms – and the only way to save the world is to find the one miracle plant Varik’s father engineered, Fireseed One. It’s been created to breed with other plants and miraculously grows in the deadly Hotzone. And Varik and Marisa must find it in the face of great odds.

Stine beautifully draws Varik and Marisa together as they learn to trust to survive. We suffer with them through a terrifying world where the land is an uninhabitable hot zone and the seas are poisonous sludge. A place that seems oh-so real. Once you put the book down it haunts you. You wonder if it could happen in your lifetime.

And as Varik begins to doubt his father, the secrets pile up and he questions what is truth and what is fiction. Did he ever really know his father? In this lies the seed that transforms Varik from child to man. We feel his pain, through Stine’s aching prose. And we want to follow his journey.

In a fiery, dying world Varik and Marisa come together in love and Stine’s lyrical language shines through. Can Varik and Marisa complete their mission in their darkest hour and if so, can they survive the journey back? No spoilers here but you will be in a race to find out.

In Fireseed One, Stine takes us on a painful but heartfelt coming of age story of two people discovering that sometimes your enemy can be your greatest friend, and all is not as it seems. Stine has created compelling, complex characters in Varik and Marisa.

Stine has created a world as deep and layered as our own, where its own language flows into the story seamlessly. She gives us a beautiful, bittersweet story of survival and love, where two young adults come to terms with who their parents are and who they are. And they face it with the grace of an adult not the petulance of a child anymore. This unique, refreshing story reveals pioneers in a new age, willing to risk the unknown and death for a better life. They are the pioneers of a new frontier. And you want them to survive and succeed at all odds.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE RUNDOWN

In prime post-apocalyptic fashion, Catherine Stine’s FireSeed One takes readers on an adventure through a world devastated by global warming. The world as we know it has fallen to ruin. Spiking temperatures have caused much of the United States and other nations near the equator to become uninhabitable. Humans have taken up living in the polar regions on boats or man-made islands. In such a harsh world, our protagonist, eighteen-year-old Varik, has had it relatively easy. His father is one of the agar farmers, cultivating sea life for the Earth's dwindling food supply. But then, Varik’s father dies unexpectedly, leaving Varik in charge. To top off his plight, a thief tries to make away with his father’s precious stock of plant seeds, seeds that Varik needs to keep the agar farm growing. When Varik confronts the thief and stop her, he learns the burglar is Marissa, a rich, powerful young lady who has fallen in with a group of terrorists. Together Varik and Marissa, with help from his lovable sidekick best friend, set off to help those suffering in the Hotzone regions. They must find the elusive Fireseed plant, the possible salvation of those starving in the hottest parts of the world.

The first thing I noticed about FireSeed One was the amount of time and thought Stine put into the creation of Varik’s world. Stine did not miss a beat, including those small, but ever so important, details about life on an agar farm. Extensive research must have gone into building such an elaborate world. It is this detail that separates the so-so stories from the epic feats of world building wonder. I was impressed with how Stine seemed to know the ins and outs of her planet. It really added depth to a fast-paced, interesting story.

The characters were likable, with the exception of Marissa who, I suspect, was meant to be menacing. The plot was well-paced. There were times, however, when I felt as though I was not properly “seeing” Stine’s world. Descriptive detail is a must when presenting a world so different from our own and I felt there were times when it was lacking. I also felt as though the story could use a well-formed antagonist to keep our heart pumping through those middle chapters.


THE RECOMMENDATION

Speculative fiction lovers will enjoy Stine’s take on how our society will evolve. Minor problems aside, the price point is right at $2.99 and the nine illustrations add to the value of a well-done book.

[Helen Mallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why illustrate fiction? Isn't narrative enough? Since the 19th century heyday of Charles Dickens's ardent collaborations with artists George Cruikshank and Phiz, a trickle of writers has experimented with this hybrid art form. At best, story and image interact, energizing the reading experience. Such is the case with Catherine Stine's YA speculative novel, FireSeed One. Her engagement with environmental issues and the detailed world she creates will appeal to adult readers as well.

Stine art directed the project, working with graphic artist Jay Montgomery on a richly imagined cover for her vision of a dystopian North America wracked by global warming. FireSeed's frontispiece contains a map of the "dominions" in our potential future. There's a Hotzone where killing temperatures burn the leg off a young boy stuck in a rock crevice; Land Dominion, bordered on the West by Vegas-by-the-Sea, and protected from Hotzone refugees by a "huge border wall"; and the once-arctic Ocean Dominion, where 18-year-old Varik Teitur is hurled into the story when he discovers that his dead father's underwater seed vault has been vandalized.

The seed code disks that hold the world's remaining food supply are in jeopardy. After a small figure in a silver diving suit "rockets" from the vault, Varik must face the truth of his father's murder and embark with his enemy, Marisa Baron, on a quest for the mythical FireSeed food plant, rumored to thrive in blowtorch conditions.

Stine herself contributed 9 illustrations to the text. She kept me turning pages, not just because of her skillful rendering of relationship as Varik and his red-haired, quarrelsome nemesis are forced to work together to save the planet and its politicized factions.

I was delighted to discover Stine's drawings of "fish plants that were an early cross-species hybid," the catlike bird that relentlessly tails Varik and Marisa's flycar, and the hooded members of the hostile FireSeed desert cult. These did not eclipse my images of the narrative; rather they were frames that led to rich interplay between narrative and mental vision.

Having experienced the surprise ending in which Varik's body changes in a startling way, I can't wait to see his growth as a character in Stine's sequel.

[Erleen Alvarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can also view this review at Books For YA!

Fireseed One took me into a futuristic realm where the world is divided into three parts; The Land Dominion, Ocean Dominion and the Hotzone. In this world, humans who live in the Hotzone was scorched to death, no ordinary plant can survive the intense heat of the sun and the only source of food came from the sea-farms in the Ocean Dominion.

Varik, inherited the biggest sea-farms in Ocean Dominion when his famous marine biologist father died and because of this inheritance that he met Marissa, a ZWC terrorist who tried to robbed his vault full of sea disks. Marissa knew something Varik didn't know. It's about a pet project of Varik's dad that he abandoned after the tragic incident which caused the death of Varik's mother.This plant is called Fireseed and it can survive without water and can crossbreed to other plants to create a super plant that can withstand anything.

Varik didn't believe it at first but when a mysterious calamity threatened to destroy the only food source in the world, Varik have no choice but to go on a quest to find the Fireseed.

I have a mixed emotions in the characters of this book. Varik was likable. He was responsible, sensitive, smart and courageous but I didn't feel a strong connection to his character. On the other hand, I feel the opposite with Marissa. There is an instant connection between us that I can't explain. She's a bit naive, rebellious and impulsive but she's not just that. She's also strong-willed and independent which are the qualities I liked about heroines.

The world Catherine Stine created was believable, I feel like I time-travelled into 2089. It's fascinating and haunting, both as the same time. The ideas from this book is so out of this world, my geeky side was amazed. I would love to see cross-breeds between plants and fish and a suit that can adapt to its environment like a chameleon.

Overall, it was a great read. Fireseed One will take you to a thrilling, action-filled adventure that you will never forget.