What do you think?
Rate this book
Sime/Gen #4
Mahogany Trinrose
The ancient and dangerous secret of the Sime / Gen Mutation threatens to topple the ruling dynasty of the House of Zeor. How much torment can one teen girl take before the fate of the world doesn't matter to her anymore? Ercy Farris, heir apparent to the House of Zeor, is busy chasing a legend. Her hope is to grow the one true mahogany-colored rose which tradition says will save humanity. Under the tutelage of the mysterious Halimer Grant, Ercy's desperate search unleashes the sleeping powers within her. Suddenly she is an outcast, a witch possessed with the abilities of telekinesis, clairvoyance, teleportation ... and the power to make all her dreams come true. Yet even as they come true, Ercy is now a threat to all she is trying to save. The House of Zeor may crumble—and all of humanity with it.
Hardcover
First published March 1, 1981
3 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Lichtenberg
68 books93 followersJacqueline Lichtenberg is creator of the Sime~Gen Universe, primary author of Star Trek Lives!, founder of the Star Trek Welcommittee, creator of the term Intimate Adventure, winner of the Galaxy Award for Spirituality in Science Fiction and one of the first Romantic Times Awards for Best Science Fiction Novel. Her work is now in e-book form, audio-dramatization and on XM Satellite Radio. She has been sf/f reviewer for The Monthly Aspectarian since 1993.
Reprints and new titles coming from Wildside Press, 2011.
Co-blogs at: http://www.aliendjinnromances.blogspo...
Find currently available titles and free chapters at
http://www.jacquelinelichtenberg.com
With Professor Jean Lorrah, she teaches sf/f writing online via Tarot and Astrology.
Reprints and new titles coming from Wildside Press, 2011.
Co-blogs at: http://www.aliendjinnromances.blogspo...
Find currently available titles and free chapters at
http://www.jacquelinelichtenberg.com
With Professor Jean Lorrah, she teaches sf/f writing online via Tarot and Astrology.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 16, 2007
Another great installment in the Sime/Gen universe. I devoured this book in a few days and look forward to the next installment.
May 1, 2009
Again I read this book a long time ago, but the whole series is REALLY GOOD!!!
Read
August 13, 2023abandoned pg 80
April 21, 2010
In the far future a mutation develops and humankind is split into Simes and Gens. Simes "change over" at adolescence into vampire-like creatures that must suction off energy from Gens every month. Ordinarily, this causes the death of the Gen. But then "Channels" are discovered who could safely take energy from Gens and give that energy to Simes. Ercy Farris is pre-changeover, a potential channel with a dream to grow a mythical flower with special powers, the "Mahogany Trinrose." Not my favorite of the Sime/Gen books--that would probably be Ambrov Keon--but definitely a good read in a series that's a favorite of mine. Both Lichtenberg and Lorrah who write books in this series are good storytellers and create characters to care about.
January 28, 2023
This is full of spoilers. Proceed at your own pleasure, having been warned.
I’m not as fond of this book as the ones that have come before. Here’s why:
* Talk of witches and magic got mixed up with the science, and — to my mind — made for a less impactful read.
* Ercy was using science to create the Mahogany Trinrose elixir kerdovan, but at the end, it was developed with some sort of esoteric magic, courtesy of Hal.
* The hallucinogenic dreams after using kerdovan seemed like an acid trip pulled out of thin air and I had a hard time making them make sense within the structure of the story. Both times it was used.
* The ending seemed jumbled and a bit chaotic; things left in the air. The presence of Ercy’s cousin is a big, big problem left unanswered. Digen’s future seems like a large hole that could be filled beautifully or tragically, depending on what happens next. I’m not even sure Ercy found her satisfactory ‘ever-after.’
* The presence of Joeslea in the story seems to be there for convenience sake, without drawing her a full character outline. She seems to be pulled out of the cupboard when necessary and otherwise, she’s not a contributor.
* There was a bit too much ephemeral dreamscape that didn’t sit solidly. As fantasy readers, we can be expected to take a lot of wispy plot occurrences and run with it. I just felt there was a bit too much of it and I felt like the plot suffered as a result.
* It’s not hard to see what’s going on in Digen’s side of the story, although, for the life of me, why he’s want to abandon Zeor to a 16 year-old leader, believing that she’s ready simply because he wants to get away. He didn’t want to leave it to her older cousin because he wasn’t mature enough. So … wtf?
The world-building is, as always absolutely first rate. I’m not going to hate the book, I just don’t think it one of the most cohesive stories in the Sime / Gen pantheon.
I’m not as fond of this book as the ones that have come before. Here’s why:
* Talk of witches and magic got mixed up with the science, and — to my mind — made for a less impactful read.
* Ercy was using science to create the Mahogany Trinrose elixir kerdovan, but at the end, it was developed with some sort of esoteric magic, courtesy of Hal.
* The hallucinogenic dreams after using kerdovan seemed like an acid trip pulled out of thin air and I had a hard time making them make sense within the structure of the story. Both times it was used.
* The ending seemed jumbled and a bit chaotic; things left in the air. The presence of Ercy’s cousin is a big, big problem left unanswered. Digen’s future seems like a large hole that could be filled beautifully or tragically, depending on what happens next. I’m not even sure Ercy found her satisfactory ‘ever-after.’
* The presence of Joeslea in the story seems to be there for convenience sake, without drawing her a full character outline. She seems to be pulled out of the cupboard when necessary and otherwise, she’s not a contributor.
* There was a bit too much ephemeral dreamscape that didn’t sit solidly. As fantasy readers, we can be expected to take a lot of wispy plot occurrences and run with it. I just felt there was a bit too much of it and I felt like the plot suffered as a result.
* It’s not hard to see what’s going on in Digen’s side of the story, although, for the life of me, why he’s want to abandon Zeor to a 16 year-old leader, believing that she’s ready simply because he wants to get away. He didn’t want to leave it to her older cousin because he wasn’t mature enough. So … wtf?
The world-building is, as always absolutely first rate. I’m not going to hate the book, I just don’t think it one of the most cohesive stories in the Sime / Gen pantheon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2020
While sheltering-in-place, I'm reading all the sci-fi/fantasy books I missed in the early 1980's (when I was handling a toddler and was reading "A is for Apple".) This is is the only book in the series I recall reading...and enjoyed coming into the fantasy world that includes the science of cross-pollinating roses as a main theme. Enjoyed the writing and wish I had discovered her earlier, but next time I come across a Jacqueline Lichtenberg book, I'll read the next one, too!
Read
October 23, 2025The ancient and dangerous secret of the Sime~Gen Mutation threatens to topple the ruling dynasty of the House of Zeor. How much torment can one teen girl take before the fate of the world doesn't matter to her anymore? How much psychic power can one young woman handle? What options can she create when she has no options left? And--can love truly conquer all? As the great SF writer Andre Norton said of this book: "Imaginative and outstanding. It captures the reader and won't let go."
December 12, 2018
Nice ride
This is the best sime gen book about growing up and the perils and decisions that take you to unexpected p!aces. It is a must read no.later what your age
This is the best sime gen book about growing up and the perils and decisions that take you to unexpected p!aces. It is a must read no.later what your age
September 5, 2013
I couldn't finish this book because it was more of a fairy tale than science fiction. This girl believes that if she grows this mythical trinrose from hybrids and everything in Sime/Gen world would be all better.
January 30, 2017
The content is just Okay. Had to simply skim through the book but still found very few stuff exciting. waste of your valuable time guys. keep moving. There are many more books that amazon and good reads suggest. Please try them.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews