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Honorverse: Star Kingdom #3
Treecat Wars
New York Times and Publishers Weekly Best Selling Young Adult Series. Book Three by international writing phenomenon David Weber. Two young settlers on a pioneer planet seek to stop a war and to save the intelligent alien treecats from exploitation by unscrupulous humans.
The fires are out, but the trouble’s just beginning for the treecats
On pioneer planet Sphinx, ruined lands and the approach of winter force the now Landless Clan to seek new territory. They have one big problem—there’s nowhere to go. Worse, their efforts to find a new home awaken the enmity of the closest treecat clan—a stronger group who’s not giving up a single branch without a fight
Stephanie Harrington, the treecats’ greatest advocate, is off to Manticore for extensive training—and up to her ears in challenges there. That leaves only Stephanie’s best friends, Jessica and Anders, to save the treecats from themselves. And now a group of xenoanthropologists is once again after the great secret of the treecats—that they are intelligent, empathic telepaths—and their agenda will lead to nothing less that treecat exploitation.
Finally, Jessica and Anders face problems of their own, including their growing attraction to one another. It is an attraction that seems a betrayal of Stephanie Harrington, the best friend either of them have ever had.
The fires are out, but the trouble’s just beginning for the treecats
On pioneer planet Sphinx, ruined lands and the approach of winter force the now Landless Clan to seek new territory. They have one big problem—there’s nowhere to go. Worse, their efforts to find a new home awaken the enmity of the closest treecat clan—a stronger group who’s not giving up a single branch without a fight
Stephanie Harrington, the treecats’ greatest advocate, is off to Manticore for extensive training—and up to her ears in challenges there. That leaves only Stephanie’s best friends, Jessica and Anders, to save the treecats from themselves. And now a group of xenoanthropologists is once again after the great secret of the treecats—that they are intelligent, empathic telepaths—and their agenda will lead to nothing less that treecat exploitation.
Finally, Jessica and Anders face problems of their own, including their growing attraction to one another. It is an attraction that seems a betrayal of Stephanie Harrington, the best friend either of them have ever had.
376 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2013
146 people are currently reading
1097 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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December 1, 2024
mediocre 3rd instalment with lots of pages and little content
October 9, 2022
While I went into this book with rather happily (I mean, treecats, c'mon, you got to love them), I was rather disappointed with the way the book turned. The beginning has Stephanie and Karl who are offered an opportunity to go to Manticore to train for three months in Manticore's Forestry Service. This is a tremendous opportunity for the both of them, though Stephanie feels torn as she'd be away from Anders, who she's in a relationship with.
Then, once Stephanie leaves, the book kind of splits off into two different plot threads--one with Stephanie on Manticore and the other with Anders and Jessica on Sphinx. I'm not a fan of this. Ignoring the fact that I rather like one centralized character for most of the POVs (which would be Stephanie, and Climbs Quickly once in a while), I'm not a fan of the dual plot threads when Stephanie isn't even all that involved with one of them. It's more of a personal like/dislike, but there you go.
I also felt as if the beginning dragged. As soon as I heard about Stephanie and Karl leaving I immediately wanted to read about that, not the entire build up to them leaving and then them actually going. Also, I'm not a huge fan of Stephanie and Ander's relationship. First love and all of that and they are kind of cute together, but... well, bland.
It's also rather choppy and piecemeal. You have these viewpoints flying back and forth (usually between Stephanie and Anders). but sometimes they're more retelling of events than actually reading about it through their eyes. I found myself flipping through pages rather quickly and wondering when it'll settle down, which it does about the middle of the book.
The plot line of Stephanie and Karl on Manticore was rather sparse. The classes they take, the people they meet--we see these things rather shallowly, which is unfortunate because they're the group of people I'm most interested in. Their plot line is rather low tension too, except for near the end of it (and it's not exactly resolved, come to think about it).
The entire book just feels like filler. Filler that I'm not even all that interested in, unfortunately. 2 stars.
Then, once Stephanie leaves, the book kind of splits off into two different plot threads--one with Stephanie on Manticore and the other with Anders and Jessica on Sphinx. I'm not a fan of this. Ignoring the fact that I rather like one centralized character for most of the POVs (which would be Stephanie, and Climbs Quickly once in a while), I'm not a fan of the dual plot threads when Stephanie isn't even all that involved with one of them. It's more of a personal like/dislike, but there you go.
I also felt as if the beginning dragged. As soon as I heard about Stephanie and Karl leaving I immediately wanted to read about that, not the entire build up to them leaving and then them actually going. Also, I'm not a huge fan of Stephanie and Ander's relationship. First love and all of that and they are kind of cute together, but... well, bland.
It's also rather choppy and piecemeal. You have these viewpoints flying back and forth (usually between Stephanie and Anders). but sometimes they're more retelling of events than actually reading about it through their eyes. I found myself flipping through pages rather quickly and wondering when it'll settle down, which it does about the middle of the book.
The plot line of Stephanie and Karl on Manticore was rather sparse. The classes they take, the people they meet--we see these things rather shallowly, which is unfortunate because they're the group of people I'm most interested in. Their plot line is rather low tension too, except for near the end of it (and it's not exactly resolved, come to think about it).
The entire book just feels like filler. Filler that I'm not even all that interested in, unfortunately. 2 stars.
October 26, 2014
Third in the Star Kingdom science fiction fantasy sub series for middle grade readers within the Honorverse overall series and revolving around Stephanie Harrington and her treecat, Lionheart.
My Take
As ever, I adore Weber's writing. And I have got to get reading Lindskold's! So far, I've only read her work when it's in conjunction with either a short story collection or with Weber, and I've been very impressed.
I hadn't ever thought of how encompassing a forest ranger's job is until Treecat Wars and Jill Shalvis' At Last , 5. It does make sense that they have to know law enforcement, firefighting, search-and-rescue, and environmental protection in addition to caring for plants and animals. Oh, geez, and PR…
An interesting back-and-forth from Stephanie's to the treecats' outlooks on events. It's very interesting, lol, when it comes to love. Poor Anders is so worried about how much Lionheart is "listening into", lol, ya can't help but feel for the guy. And Valiant has his thoughts about Jess' conflicted feelings — it's so much easier when life is mind-to-mind!
It's drama and trauma as Stephanie is, in turn, excited and depressed over this terrific opportunity, and it's Anders who gives Stephanie the best reasons for going.
Parents, this is a good story for kids with good values. Well, I think they're good, lol. Treecat Wars promotes kids engaging in what they love, being adventurous AND practical as well as heroic, ahem, safely, *grin*. They show consideration for others. And there is good parent behavior in here as well: a parent actually apologizing for his bad behavior, and even better, a parent telling his child he was proud of him. We tend to forget that children need positive reinforcement. Legitimate praise for doing well. There's a nice dig at people who actually believe that the color of a person's skin is indicative of human intelligence. Idiots.
I love, love, love that Valiant is so fascinated by gardening. I don't see how these idiot scientists can't see beyond their limited expectations!
It's Dacey's talent that helps Lionheart make the leap from reality to non-mind images. It's something so ingrained in our own culture, that we tend to forget that other cultures won't understand. Weber/Lindskold did a reasonably good job of conveying Lionheart's confusion over this. I especially love how Lionheart compared Dacey's paintings to "savoring the tiny differences between the People's remembered images of the same thing". Sure comes in handy when Stephanie needs to explain that the two of them will have to travel off-planet.
There's a clever bit in here about Stephanie's birthday present to Anders. It's also clever how Weber/Lindskold introduce a burgeoning love interest. And cute, if not so clever digs about Stephanie making a great fleet commander, oy.
I don't understand people like Gwen or Ozzie. Okay, so you made a bad investment. Sell it off. Don't go around killing or kidnapping people!
Anders makes an excellent point about Hidalgo wanting to "seal away the People in tidy little reservations where they can practice their folkways in peace" nor that "the lands 'given' to treecats wouldn't be the best". Hmmm, sounds like how we treated Native Americans.
Territory-wise, I can understand Keen Eyes wondering why the elders should have the final say about an event that no one of the People have ever experienced before.
Finally, it's a war that will change Keen Eyes' mind about two-legs.
The Story
Anders was able to come back to Sphinx due to Dacey’s desire to continue her work, and Stephanie’s thrilled to have the extra three to four months with him.
Then an unknown dream comes true — two slots are available in a “special accelerated training program for Forestry Service personnel on Manticore” — and Stephanie and Karl have been chosen to go!
Only, it will reduce the time she has to spend with Anders.
Meanwhile, the aftermath of the fire in Fire Season , 2, is tragic with the Swaying Fronds Clan desperate for a territory that can help them survive the coming winter. Nor are they the only clan that has been hurt, but nothing, nothing can excuse the murder of one of their own.
This is war!
The Characters
Stephanie Harrington, a.k.a., Death Fang's Bane *, is Honor's ancestress and the first human to bond with a treecat, Lionheart, a.k.a., Climbs Quickly *. She's still young — 15 ½ — but showing her worth already. Dr. Richard Harrington, a.k.a., Healer, is her father and a veterinarian. Her mother, Dr. Marjorie, is a plant biologist and geneticist. Dr. Saleem Smythe is her father's new assistant.
The eighteen-year-old Karl Zivonik, a.k.a., Shadowed Sunlight, is her friend and a fellow provisional ranger. Sumiko is, was, the girl Karl had intended to marry. Larissa is one of his sisters. Jessica Pheriss, a.k.a., Windswept, has been adopted by a treecat, Valiant, a.k.a., Dirt Grubber of the Damp Water Clan. Her parents are Buddy and Naomi, who's working with Dr. Marjorie, and her siblings are Melanie-Anne who is too trusting; Archie is her twin; the youngest sister, Tiddles, likes to tie bows on Valiant; Billiam; and, Nathan. Otis and Mookie are their dogs. Other friends include Toby Mednick who has gained confidence and Chet and Christine who are a couple and part of the tourist guide program. Trudy Franchitti is a contemporary, but not a friend. She's still dating Stan Chang, a doper.
Anders Whitaker, a.k.a., Bleached Fur, is almost 17 with an intense interest in treecats who came with his father's anthropological expedition last year. He and Stephanie have formed a romantic bond.
The expedition
Dr. Bradford Whitaker, a.k.a., Garbage Collector, has gone home to Urako in the Kenichi system in disgrace and to fight for the right to return. Anders' mother is a cabinet minister in the Kenichi system. Dr. Calida Emberly, a.k.a., Plant Woman, was the expedition's xenobiologist and botanist, and she will become the team's XO; her mother, Dacey Emberly, a.k.a., Eye of Memory, is the expedition's painter and scientific illustrator. It's thanks to her that Anders ends up back on Sphinx before he or Stephanie expected. Dr. Kesia Guyen specializes in linguistics and has expanded her area of work into organizing the minutia of treecat culture. Dr. Langston Nez specializes in cultural anthropology and has been Dr. Whittaker's senior assistant for years. Virgil Iwamoto and his pregnant wife, Peony Rose, have left after his resignation. I think Chancellor Warwick is with a university in the Kenichi system.
The interlopers include Dr. Cleonora Radzinsky, who is known for her work on nonhuman intelligence, also knows quite a bit about what could happen to land ownership if the treecats are accepted as having sentience; Dr. Gary Hidalgo feels strongly about the preservation of indigenous cultures in an uncontaminated state; the jerky Dr. Russell Darrolyn is "at the cutting edge of nonverbal communication studies"; Gretta Grendelson is an assistant with a biology bent who gets an unexpected "welcome" on arrival; and, the sneaky Duff DeWitt is one of Radzinsky's assistants.
Treecats, a.k.a., the People
Swaying Fronds Clan
Keen Eyes, a.k.a., Survivor, is one of the clan's scouts. Tiny Choir is their only remaining memory singer, and she's so young. Sour Belly is one of the older ones and lives up to his name; Wonder Touch is his mate and the opposite of him in character. Red Cliff had been drawn to their clan by "the most beautiful mind-glow he had ever sensed", Speckles, who earned a new name that day, Beautiful Mind. Bowl Shaper, Firm Biter and Hard Claw are hunters, and Knot Binder are part of the clan as well. Long Voice is a scout.
Trees Enfolding Clan
Nimble Fingers, a.k.a., Guide, is nephew to the vicious Swimmer's Scourge. Pleasant Singer is a memory singer.
Bright Water Clan
Many treecat clans are against the choices Lionheart/Climbs Quickly's People have made. Morgana seems to be the leader. Sings Truly is their senior memory singer. Broken Tooth is a half-crippled scout who had taught Climbs Quickly. Song Spinner was Sings Truly's teacher.
Damp Water Clan
Brilliant Images is one of their memory singers.
The Sphinxian Forestry Service (SFS) Rangers
Chief Ranger Shelton is Stephanie and Karl's boss and in charge of the Sphinx Forestry Service. Frank Lethbridge and Ainsley Jedrusinski have been promoted to Senior Ranger. The tourist guides program takes some of the pressure off the forest rangers.
Dr. Scott MacDallan, a.k.a., Darkness Foe, is the only other person on Sphinx who has been adopted by a treecat, Fisher, a.k.a., Swift Striker; his wife is Irina Kisaevna. She's also Karl's aunt, and he lives with them since his parents died of plague.
Governor Donaldson governs Sphinx. Patricia Helton is Donaldson's chief of staff. Minister Vasquez is as angry as Donaldson with Whitaker. The Franchitti family believes animals are for hunting.
Manticore
Forestry Service training program
Dr. Sonura Hobbard is the "official head of the official Crown inquiry into treecat intelligence" for Manticore. Those who don't like or fear treecats include Dean Charterman, dean of students at Landing University; the patronizing Dr. Harvy Gleason, officially a department head, but Stephanie believes he runs the School of Forestry (he's also Morrow's brother-in-law and truly angry that two kids are being enrolled in the Forestry Service training class). Those who like treecats include Dr. Mordecai Flouret, chairman of the College of Criminology. Dr. Emily Tibbets, a.k.a., Justice Tibbets, teaches introductory jurisprudence, and she's tough. Allen Harper is one of Charterman's assistants.
Carmen Telford and Jeff Harrison are some of the students in the training course who become friends with Stephanie and Karl.
The Adair Foundation is…
…a nonprofit involved in preserving biodiversity and is chaired by Gwen's cousin, the Earl of Adair Hollow, George Lebedyenko. Additional board members include Turner and Fitzpatrick. They're offering the endowment of a xeno-anthropology chair at Landing University in exchange for allowing outside scientists to be added to Whitaker's expedition. Oswald Morrow, one of the earl's financial managers, is working with Gwendolyn Adair (she's a director) of the Adair Foundation to discredit Stephanie and Lionheart. (They were responsible for Bolego being included in the expedition in Fire Season .) Angelique Frampton, Countess Frampton, is part of whatever they're planning…and heavily invested in Sphinxian lands.
The Charleston Arms is a very fancy and very private restaurant. Steve Cirillom is a footman there.
Genies are humans genetically modified to survive the planet they're colonizing.
* 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. Treecats are a sentient species found only on the planet Sphinx. They are somewhat 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 past.
The Cover
I think the cover is meant to be a uniform-clad Stephanie looking out the window of a spaceship as Lionheart’s attention is more on us.
The title is sadly true, for it's the Treecat Wars that bring the tragedy to Stephanie’s attention.
My Take
As ever, I adore Weber's writing. And I have got to get reading Lindskold's! So far, I've only read her work when it's in conjunction with either a short story collection or with Weber, and I've been very impressed.
I hadn't ever thought of how encompassing a forest ranger's job is until Treecat Wars and Jill Shalvis' At Last , 5. It does make sense that they have to know law enforcement, firefighting, search-and-rescue, and environmental protection in addition to caring for plants and animals. Oh, geez, and PR…
An interesting back-and-forth from Stephanie's to the treecats' outlooks on events. It's very interesting, lol, when it comes to love. Poor Anders is so worried about how much Lionheart is "listening into", lol, ya can't help but feel for the guy. And Valiant has his thoughts about Jess' conflicted feelings — it's so much easier when life is mind-to-mind!
"Love at first sight is wonderful and romantic, but it also means you're in love with an impression, an idea, an appearance."
It's drama and trauma as Stephanie is, in turn, excited and depressed over this terrific opportunity, and it's Anders who gives Stephanie the best reasons for going.
Parents, this is a good story for kids with good values. Well, I think they're good, lol. Treecat Wars promotes kids engaging in what they love, being adventurous AND practical as well as heroic, ahem, safely, *grin*. They show consideration for others. And there is good parent behavior in here as well: a parent actually apologizing for his bad behavior, and even better, a parent telling his child he was proud of him. We tend to forget that children need positive reinforcement. Legitimate praise for doing well. There's a nice dig at people who actually believe that the color of a person's skin is indicative of human intelligence. Idiots.
I love, love, love that Valiant is so fascinated by gardening. I don't see how these idiot scientists can't see beyond their limited expectations!
It's Dacey's talent that helps Lionheart make the leap from reality to non-mind images. It's something so ingrained in our own culture, that we tend to forget that other cultures won't understand. Weber/Lindskold did a reasonably good job of conveying Lionheart's confusion over this. I especially love how Lionheart compared Dacey's paintings to "savoring the tiny differences between the People's remembered images of the same thing". Sure comes in handy when Stephanie needs to explain that the two of them will have to travel off-planet.
There's a clever bit in here about Stephanie's birthday present to Anders. It's also clever how Weber/Lindskold introduce a burgeoning love interest. And cute, if not so clever digs about Stephanie making a great fleet commander, oy.
I don't understand people like Gwen or Ozzie. Okay, so you made a bad investment. Sell it off. Don't go around killing or kidnapping people!
Anders makes an excellent point about Hidalgo wanting to "seal away the People in tidy little reservations where they can practice their folkways in peace" nor that "the lands 'given' to treecats wouldn't be the best". Hmmm, sounds like how we treated Native Americans.
Territory-wise, I can understand Keen Eyes wondering why the elders should have the final say about an event that no one of the People have ever experienced before.
Finally, it's a war that will change Keen Eyes' mind about two-legs.
The Story
Anders was able to come back to Sphinx due to Dacey’s desire to continue her work, and Stephanie’s thrilled to have the extra three to four months with him.
Then an unknown dream comes true — two slots are available in a “special accelerated training program for Forestry Service personnel on Manticore” — and Stephanie and Karl have been chosen to go!
Only, it will reduce the time she has to spend with Anders.
Meanwhile, the aftermath of the fire in Fire Season , 2, is tragic with the Swaying Fronds Clan desperate for a territory that can help them survive the coming winter. Nor are they the only clan that has been hurt, but nothing, nothing can excuse the murder of one of their own.
This is war!
The Characters
Stephanie Harrington, a.k.a., Death Fang's Bane *, is Honor's ancestress and the first human to bond with a treecat, Lionheart, a.k.a., Climbs Quickly *. She's still young — 15 ½ — but showing her worth already. Dr. Richard Harrington, a.k.a., Healer, is her father and a veterinarian. Her mother, Dr. Marjorie, is a plant biologist and geneticist. Dr. Saleem Smythe is her father's new assistant.
The eighteen-year-old Karl Zivonik, a.k.a., Shadowed Sunlight, is her friend and a fellow provisional ranger. Sumiko is, was, the girl Karl had intended to marry. Larissa is one of his sisters. Jessica Pheriss, a.k.a., Windswept, has been adopted by a treecat, Valiant, a.k.a., Dirt Grubber of the Damp Water Clan. Her parents are Buddy and Naomi, who's working with Dr. Marjorie, and her siblings are Melanie-Anne who is too trusting; Archie is her twin; the youngest sister, Tiddles, likes to tie bows on Valiant; Billiam; and, Nathan. Otis and Mookie are their dogs. Other friends include Toby Mednick who has gained confidence and Chet and Christine who are a couple and part of the tourist guide program. Trudy Franchitti is a contemporary, but not a friend. She's still dating Stan Chang, a doper.
Anders Whitaker, a.k.a., Bleached Fur, is almost 17 with an intense interest in treecats who came with his father's anthropological expedition last year. He and Stephanie have formed a romantic bond.
The expedition
Dr. Bradford Whitaker, a.k.a., Garbage Collector, has gone home to Urako in the Kenichi system in disgrace and to fight for the right to return. Anders' mother is a cabinet minister in the Kenichi system. Dr. Calida Emberly, a.k.a., Plant Woman, was the expedition's xenobiologist and botanist, and she will become the team's XO; her mother, Dacey Emberly, a.k.a., Eye of Memory, is the expedition's painter and scientific illustrator. It's thanks to her that Anders ends up back on Sphinx before he or Stephanie expected. Dr. Kesia Guyen specializes in linguistics and has expanded her area of work into organizing the minutia of treecat culture. Dr. Langston Nez specializes in cultural anthropology and has been Dr. Whittaker's senior assistant for years. Virgil Iwamoto and his pregnant wife, Peony Rose, have left after his resignation. I think Chancellor Warwick is with a university in the Kenichi system.
The interlopers include Dr. Cleonora Radzinsky, who is known for her work on nonhuman intelligence, also knows quite a bit about what could happen to land ownership if the treecats are accepted as having sentience; Dr. Gary Hidalgo feels strongly about the preservation of indigenous cultures in an uncontaminated state; the jerky Dr. Russell Darrolyn is "at the cutting edge of nonverbal communication studies"; Gretta Grendelson is an assistant with a biology bent who gets an unexpected "welcome" on arrival; and, the sneaky Duff DeWitt is one of Radzinsky's assistants.
Treecats, a.k.a., the People
Swaying Fronds Clan
Keen Eyes, a.k.a., Survivor, is one of the clan's scouts. Tiny Choir is their only remaining memory singer, and she's so young. Sour Belly is one of the older ones and lives up to his name; Wonder Touch is his mate and the opposite of him in character. Red Cliff had been drawn to their clan by "the most beautiful mind-glow he had ever sensed", Speckles, who earned a new name that day, Beautiful Mind. Bowl Shaper, Firm Biter and Hard Claw are hunters, and Knot Binder are part of the clan as well. Long Voice is a scout.
Trees Enfolding Clan
Nimble Fingers, a.k.a., Guide, is nephew to the vicious Swimmer's Scourge. Pleasant Singer is a memory singer.
Bright Water Clan
Many treecat clans are against the choices Lionheart/Climbs Quickly's People have made. Morgana seems to be the leader. Sings Truly is their senior memory singer. Broken Tooth is a half-crippled scout who had taught Climbs Quickly. Song Spinner was Sings Truly's teacher.
Damp Water Clan
Brilliant Images is one of their memory singers.
The Sphinxian Forestry Service (SFS) Rangers
Chief Ranger Shelton is Stephanie and Karl's boss and in charge of the Sphinx Forestry Service. Frank Lethbridge and Ainsley Jedrusinski have been promoted to Senior Ranger. The tourist guides program takes some of the pressure off the forest rangers.
Dr. Scott MacDallan, a.k.a., Darkness Foe, is the only other person on Sphinx who has been adopted by a treecat, Fisher, a.k.a., Swift Striker; his wife is Irina Kisaevna. She's also Karl's aunt, and he lives with them since his parents died of plague.
Governor Donaldson governs Sphinx. Patricia Helton is Donaldson's chief of staff. Minister Vasquez is as angry as Donaldson with Whitaker. The Franchitti family believes animals are for hunting.
Manticore
Forestry Service training program
Dr. Sonura Hobbard is the "official head of the official Crown inquiry into treecat intelligence" for Manticore. Those who don't like or fear treecats include Dean Charterman, dean of students at Landing University; the patronizing Dr. Harvy Gleason, officially a department head, but Stephanie believes he runs the School of Forestry (he's also Morrow's brother-in-law and truly angry that two kids are being enrolled in the Forestry Service training class). Those who like treecats include Dr. Mordecai Flouret, chairman of the College of Criminology. Dr. Emily Tibbets, a.k.a., Justice Tibbets, teaches introductory jurisprudence, and she's tough. Allen Harper is one of Charterman's assistants.
Carmen Telford and Jeff Harrison are some of the students in the training course who become friends with Stephanie and Karl.
The Adair Foundation is…
…a nonprofit involved in preserving biodiversity and is chaired by Gwen's cousin, the Earl of Adair Hollow, George Lebedyenko. Additional board members include Turner and Fitzpatrick. They're offering the endowment of a xeno-anthropology chair at Landing University in exchange for allowing outside scientists to be added to Whitaker's expedition. Oswald Morrow, one of the earl's financial managers, is working with Gwendolyn Adair (she's a director) of the Adair Foundation to discredit Stephanie and Lionheart. (They were responsible for Bolego being included in the expedition in Fire Season .) Angelique Frampton, Countess Frampton, is part of whatever they're planning…and heavily invested in Sphinxian lands.
The Charleston Arms is a very fancy and very private restaurant. Steve Cirillom is a footman there.
Genies are humans genetically modified to survive the planet they're colonizing.
* 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. Treecats are a sentient species found only on the planet Sphinx. They are somewhat 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 past.
The Cover
I think the cover is meant to be a uniform-clad Stephanie looking out the window of a spaceship as Lionheart’s attention is more on us.
The title is sadly true, for it's the Treecat Wars that bring the tragedy to Stephanie’s attention.
September 19, 2013
This book is the third in the series of YA novels that follows Stephanie Harrington, her treecat, Climbs Quickly. While off planet for the first time on her own, in the company of Climbs Quickly and her human friend Karl, Her friends back home are forced to come to grips with a serious problem among 2 clans of treecats who are survivors of a series of forest fires that have decimated the ranges where they live. With resources scarce and emotions riding high, a potential war between clans erupts into open combat that draws Stephanie's friend Jessica, her treecat Valiant, and Stephanie's boyfriend Anders into a desperate attempt to solve they mystery of what caused the violent outbreak.
There is great progress in character development in all the major players in the series thus far. We learn more about the cat's social order and that they too suffer many of the same problems mindblind humans do, including war over resources. We see relationships blossom, change and even end among the major players.
I very much enjoyed this book and highly recommend it and look forward to the next installment.
There is great progress in character development in all the major players in the series thus far. We learn more about the cat's social order and that they too suffer many of the same problems mindblind humans do, including war over resources. We see relationships blossom, change and even end among the major players.
I very much enjoyed this book and highly recommend it and look forward to the next installment.
September 23, 2013
I would really like to thank NetGalley & Baen Books for generously giving me access to an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. The fact that I received this book for free has no impact on the content of my review. I rate this book 3.5 stars, but as it is not quite equal to the first book for me I am not rounding my rating up.
This is the third, and possibly final, book in a series. If you have not yet read books one and two I recommend that you STOP HERE AND READ NO FURTHER, as there may be spoilers for the earlier books that are necessary for the review of this one. I do try to avoid letting that happen but can't make any promises.
To begin with, I found the title of this book to be a bit misleading, as the "war" was a relatively small part of the story in relation to my expectations. Many of the same issues that the treecats faced in the first two books continue to plague them in this book, which makes sense given how little time passes between each book. While one might expect to feel that those issues have already been beaten to death, the truth is that their very complexity makes them fodder for telling such a rich and complex story from a variety of points of view. Once again Stephanie, Lionheart, and their friends are called upon in service of the treecats, with the 'cats also assisting them in more ways than their human companions can ever understand, lacking the telepathic ability required to fully communicate with each other.
The interpersonal dynamics are a treat, as once again I got to relive aspects of my own adolescence through Weber's & Lindskold's characters. As well as feeling like an insecure teenager again there are also adult situations that pulled me in, with great protagonists and antagonists, as well as many that are a blend of the two. Situations arise which allow for some of the 'good guys' to behave poorly while the 'bad guys' make themselves look good - though this doesn't happen as often as the antagonists want. As well as using the humans as a method of educating the reader the treecats are used as well, possibly more frequently than humans. However for all that I go on about teaching and messages, this is first and foremost a wonderful tale full of action, adventure, and emotional situations.
I really like how life for the human characters is not pushed to the back in favor of the treecats, or the reverse. Situations arise that have some of the human characters struggling with their emotions, and the situations are so relatable that they brought me back to my own years as a teenager and how everything was always a crisis. For example the incredible highs of discovering someone you 'love' feels the same way about you to the heartbreaking lows of being separated for a few brief months. And how the emotional response to the impending or actual separation ranks as high as the devastation of a break up. The treecats get to avoid much of these experiences due to their telepathy, but that doesn't mean they don't have their own share of emotional highs and lows. While we may not be able to relate to the causes of 'cats emotional drama, they also are relatable enough that we share in their emotions just as we do with the humans.
The authors crafted a story that covered many issues that are important to us today, and in doing so are able to use the story as a tool with which to share those lessons & the better ways to solve them. As the characters take us through a wide range of emotions related to the various situations they face we get to experience the message at the same time they do without once feeling as if Weber or Lindskold sacrificed the story in favor of the message. Thus far this series has been truly enjoyable to read, telling a great story while at the same time doing an excellent job of demonstrating right and wrong ways to behave in relation to your environment. I don't know if there are more books planned for this series or not. The way the book ends leaves the option open for continuing the series, but at the same time brings several main question to enough of a conclusion that this could be the finale. Personally I'm torn, as I would like to know the answers to more things, yet I don't know how the authors could manage another book without the series beginning to feel stale and to drawn out. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens next.
This is the third, and possibly final, book in a series. If you have not yet read books one and two I recommend that you STOP HERE AND READ NO FURTHER, as there may be spoilers for the earlier books that are necessary for the review of this one. I do try to avoid letting that happen but can't make any promises.
New York Times and Publishers Weekly Best Selling Young Adult Series. Book Three by international writing phenomenon David Weber. Two young settlers on a pioneer planet seeks to stop a war and to save the intelligent alien treecats from exploitation by unscrupulous humans.
The fires are out, but the trouble’s just beginning for the treecats.
On pioneer planet Sphinx, ruined lands and the approach of winter force the now Landless Clan to seek new territory. They have one big problem—there’s nowhere to go. Worse, their efforts to find a new home awaken the enmity of the closest treecat clan—a stronger group who’s not giving up a single branch without a fight.
Stephanie Harrington, the treecats’ greatest advocate, is off to Manticore for extensive training—and up to her ears in challenges there. That leaves only Stephanie’s best friends, Jessica and Anders, to save the treecats from themselves. And now a group of xenoanthropologists is once again after the great secret of the treecats—that they are intelligent, empathic telepaths—and their agenda will lead to nothing less that treecat exploitation.
Finally, Jessica and Anders face problems of their own, including their growing attraction to one another. It is an attraction that seems a betrayal of Stephanie Harrington, the best friend either of them have ever had.
To begin with, I found the title of this book to be a bit misleading, as the "war" was a relatively small part of the story in relation to my expectations. Many of the same issues that the treecats faced in the first two books continue to plague them in this book, which makes sense given how little time passes between each book. While one might expect to feel that those issues have already been beaten to death, the truth is that their very complexity makes them fodder for telling such a rich and complex story from a variety of points of view. Once again Stephanie, Lionheart, and their friends are called upon in service of the treecats, with the 'cats also assisting them in more ways than their human companions can ever understand, lacking the telepathic ability required to fully communicate with each other.
The interpersonal dynamics are a treat, as once again I got to relive aspects of my own adolescence through Weber's & Lindskold's characters. As well as feeling like an insecure teenager again there are also adult situations that pulled me in, with great protagonists and antagonists, as well as many that are a blend of the two. Situations arise which allow for some of the 'good guys' to behave poorly while the 'bad guys' make themselves look good - though this doesn't happen as often as the antagonists want. As well as using the humans as a method of educating the reader the treecats are used as well, possibly more frequently than humans. However for all that I go on about teaching and messages, this is first and foremost a wonderful tale full of action, adventure, and emotional situations.
I really like how life for the human characters is not pushed to the back in favor of the treecats, or the reverse. Situations arise that have some of the human characters struggling with their emotions, and the situations are so relatable that they brought me back to my own years as a teenager and how everything was always a crisis. For example the incredible highs of discovering someone you 'love' feels the same way about you to the heartbreaking lows of being separated for a few brief months. And how the emotional response to the impending or actual separation ranks as high as the devastation of a break up. The treecats get to avoid much of these experiences due to their telepathy, but that doesn't mean they don't have their own share of emotional highs and lows. While we may not be able to relate to the causes of 'cats emotional drama, they also are relatable enough that we share in their emotions just as we do with the humans.
The authors crafted a story that covered many issues that are important to us today, and in doing so are able to use the story as a tool with which to share those lessons & the better ways to solve them. As the characters take us through a wide range of emotions related to the various situations they face we get to experience the message at the same time they do without once feeling as if Weber or Lindskold sacrificed the story in favor of the message. Thus far this series has been truly enjoyable to read, telling a great story while at the same time doing an excellent job of demonstrating right and wrong ways to behave in relation to your environment. I don't know if there are more books planned for this series or not. The way the book ends leaves the option open for continuing the series, but at the same time brings several main question to enough of a conclusion that this could be the finale. Personally I'm torn, as I would like to know the answers to more things, yet I don't know how the authors could manage another book without the series beginning to feel stale and to drawn out. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens next.
July 24, 2017
My least favorite of the series thus far, more romantic tension than I prefer and there were several major grammar snafus. But, despite all of that, it is still a good book.
For my clean readers:
mild language and violence.
For my clean readers:
mild language and violence.
September 23, 2019
I enjoyed it even with the teenage angst!
June 19, 2023
Quite emotional, as one might expect with telempaths, mostly related to treecat societies but also to a lesser degree related to YA relationships.
August 23, 2024
Not being the target audience, I could've skipped the first 2/3rds of this story. Good ending tho, and I will still read the last one.
October 6, 2013
Originally published at Reading Reality
Stephanie Harrington may be a bit too close to perfect, but the treecats finally reveal themselves as being all too human in this third book of the YA spinoff of David Weber’s Honor Harrington series.
In A Beautiful Friendship, the first book in the series, Stephanie Harrington is the 11-year-old who not only outsmarts her parents and all the other adults on Sphinx, but also manages to out-clever the fully sentient native treecat species that has successfully evaded humans for a couple of centuries by the time that Stephanie comes along.
Fire Season continues the theme of the treecats and the teenagers both being a bit too good to be true, and anyone who underestimates one or the other getting their comeuppance by way of a planet that is still way more frontier than settled.
In Treecat Wars, while the theme of human political machinations being evil definitely gets played to the hilt, we see the full range of treecat intelligence. They are every bit as intelligent as we are. The problem with having a high level of intelligence is that they are also capable of low-cunning and of going insane, just like us.
The treecats in this series who are point-of-view characters, Climbs Quickly and Dirt Grubber, call themselves “The People”, and refer to individuals as “Persons”. Individual “Persons” can lose their way, and when they are Elders, they can lead a whole clan astray. After a fire season, when food is scarce, treecats compete for resources, just as humans do. In this unsettled time, one treecat murders another, and starts a misguided war.
Meanwhile, humans are attempting to control how the universe at large perceived the treecats. They are sentient. But are they as intelligent as humans? Should they be protected? If so, in what way? History shows that protected native species and tribes do not fare well. Are the treecats dangerous? They are economically dangerous to those who believed that Sphinx was uninhabited.
Some people will stop at nothing to eliminate any threat to their supposed superiority. If they can’t find a way to portray the treecats and their partners negatively, they may resort to something more permanent.
Escape Rating B+: I read through the entire series at warp speed. Stephanie is a bit of a Mary Sue, and there is a bit too much teenage angst at the end, but overall, it’s just too much fun reading about the treecats. I could have skipped the humans and just read about the cats and been perfectly happy.
There were a ton of hints that there was a vast conspiracy of anti-cat humans who were just plain evil, but all we got were hints. The ones we saw were either one-dimensional or very easily converted. I suspect another book.
The treecat characters were more multi-dimensional than any of the human characters, and that was just fine. More treecats!
Stephanie Harrington may be a bit too close to perfect, but the treecats finally reveal themselves as being all too human in this third book of the YA spinoff of David Weber’s Honor Harrington series.
In A Beautiful Friendship, the first book in the series, Stephanie Harrington is the 11-year-old who not only outsmarts her parents and all the other adults on Sphinx, but also manages to out-clever the fully sentient native treecat species that has successfully evaded humans for a couple of centuries by the time that Stephanie comes along.
Fire Season continues the theme of the treecats and the teenagers both being a bit too good to be true, and anyone who underestimates one or the other getting their comeuppance by way of a planet that is still way more frontier than settled.
In Treecat Wars, while the theme of human political machinations being evil definitely gets played to the hilt, we see the full range of treecat intelligence. They are every bit as intelligent as we are. The problem with having a high level of intelligence is that they are also capable of low-cunning and of going insane, just like us.
The treecats in this series who are point-of-view characters, Climbs Quickly and Dirt Grubber, call themselves “The People”, and refer to individuals as “Persons”. Individual “Persons” can lose their way, and when they are Elders, they can lead a whole clan astray. After a fire season, when food is scarce, treecats compete for resources, just as humans do. In this unsettled time, one treecat murders another, and starts a misguided war.
Meanwhile, humans are attempting to control how the universe at large perceived the treecats. They are sentient. But are they as intelligent as humans? Should they be protected? If so, in what way? History shows that protected native species and tribes do not fare well. Are the treecats dangerous? They are economically dangerous to those who believed that Sphinx was uninhabited.
Some people will stop at nothing to eliminate any threat to their supposed superiority. If they can’t find a way to portray the treecats and their partners negatively, they may resort to something more permanent.
Escape Rating B+: I read through the entire series at warp speed. Stephanie is a bit of a Mary Sue, and there is a bit too much teenage angst at the end, but overall, it’s just too much fun reading about the treecats. I could have skipped the humans and just read about the cats and been perfectly happy.
There were a ton of hints that there was a vast conspiracy of anti-cat humans who were just plain evil, but all we got were hints. The ones we saw were either one-dimensional or very easily converted. I suspect another book.
The treecat characters were more multi-dimensional than any of the human characters, and that was just fine. More treecats!
August 9, 2023
First I would like to thank NetGalley, Baen Book and the authors for allowing me to review an eARC of Treecat Wars.
Treecat Wars is the third book in the "Honorverse: Stephanie Harrington" Series. I have not read the first 2 books or the Original Honorverse Series.
Treecat Wars is partially about the Aftermath of Book 2, where the newly named Landless Clan is trying to find ways to survive while a neighbouring clan has become aggressive. The Landless Clan must fight to Survive.
While Stephanie and Karl are going Off-world for 3 months to learn investigative skills. While they are away, Adira and Morrow (bad guys) are going to take advantage of Stephanie's off-world status and create havoc by sending a group of xenoanthropologists that wish to exploit the treecat's for monetary gain.
While Stephanie is away, Anders (Stephanie's boyfriend) and Jessica (Stephanie's best friend) must face the problems of the enoanthropologists and their growing attraction towards each other.
I was somewhat disappointed with Treecat Wars. The first half of the novel was very dull and involved a lot of talking, too much description and very little action. I realize a story or mystery must be set-up but the set-up was too long.
There was very little mystery to the story. You could easily see where the plot was taking you, ie. how Stephanie was going to fair at the University off-planet, how Anders and Jessica were going to take this new-found attraction, and whether the bad guys were going to get away with their plans. The only real adventure seemed to be with the Landless Clan and their War to survive.
Stephanie's character wasn't that interesting. There were a lot instances where she demonstrated a "Mary-Sue" type character that is perfect in everything. There are very little flaws to the character.
Despite the fact that this series is supposed to be about Stephanie, Anders is the most prominent character in Treecat Wars. I found his struggles and adventures to be more fulfilling at times.
Overall, Treecat Wars was Okay. The book was missing that "something" that could have made it really great.
Treecat Wars is the third book in the "Honorverse: Stephanie Harrington" Series. I have not read the first 2 books or the Original Honorverse Series.
Treecat Wars is partially about the Aftermath of Book 2, where the newly named Landless Clan is trying to find ways to survive while a neighbouring clan has become aggressive. The Landless Clan must fight to Survive.
While Stephanie and Karl are going Off-world for 3 months to learn investigative skills. While they are away, Adira and Morrow (bad guys) are going to take advantage of Stephanie's off-world status and create havoc by sending a group of xenoanthropologists that wish to exploit the treecat's for monetary gain.
While Stephanie is away, Anders (Stephanie's boyfriend) and Jessica (Stephanie's best friend) must face the problems of the enoanthropologists and their growing attraction towards each other.
I was somewhat disappointed with Treecat Wars. The first half of the novel was very dull and involved a lot of talking, too much description and very little action. I realize a story or mystery must be set-up but the set-up was too long.
There was very little mystery to the story. You could easily see where the plot was taking you, ie. how Stephanie was going to fair at the University off-planet, how Anders and Jessica were going to take this new-found attraction, and whether the bad guys were going to get away with their plans. The only real adventure seemed to be with the Landless Clan and their War to survive.
Stephanie's character wasn't that interesting. There were a lot instances where she demonstrated a "Mary-Sue" type character that is perfect in everything. There are very little flaws to the character.
Despite the fact that this series is supposed to be about Stephanie, Anders is the most prominent character in Treecat Wars. I found his struggles and adventures to be more fulfilling at times.
Overall, Treecat Wars was Okay. The book was missing that "something" that could have made it really great.
July 26, 2013
Treecat Wars is the third title in David Weber's Young Adult series based in the Honor Harrington universe. The Harrington family, Stephanie and her parents, are recent settlers on Sphinx and are building their lives on this newly opened planet. In Book One, we are introduced to Stephanie and we learn how Stephanie "discovers" and bonds with the treecat "Lionheart." Much of the entire series revolves around the issue of convincing the authorities of the new Kingdom of Manticore that treecats are a sentient species and protecting them from exploitation. After devastating forest fires have destroyed many treecat habitats, Stephanie and friend, Karl are sent to Manticore for Ranger training leaving her romantic interest, Anders and her best friend Jessica (also bonded with a treecat) to assist visiting xenobiologists who are investigating treecats. Stephanie and Karl pursue their studies and promote the case for accepting treecats as a sentient species while on Manticore. While Anders and Jessica assist the visiting scientists, they discover dead treecats and severely injured treecats and come to understand that one treecat clan is in a dire situation because it has lost its hunting lands and is hemmed in by the human population and another treecat clan that will not allow the stressed clan passage through their lands to a new location.
While the several strands of stories are nicely woven together by the end of the book, I found that far too much time was spent in the first half of the book on the teen angst angle. Yes - I know the book is a YA title, but this could have been done in far fewer words and with more finesse. One other annoying feature of the first half of the book is the constant "bleek"-ing of the bonded treecats. It is the only vocalization of treecats, but it was overused, leading me to believe that the authors were trying too hard to make this a YA book.
I hope that the fourth book in the series is better written.
While the several strands of stories are nicely woven together by the end of the book, I found that far too much time was spent in the first half of the book on the teen angst angle. Yes - I know the book is a YA title, but this could have been done in far fewer words and with more finesse. One other annoying feature of the first half of the book is the constant "bleek"-ing of the bonded treecats. It is the only vocalization of treecats, but it was overused, leading me to believe that the authors were trying too hard to make this a YA book.
I hope that the fourth book in the series is better written.
September 30, 2013
Treecats, protection and status--an important addition to the Harrington milieu. (3 1/2 stars)
Third in the series about Stephanie Harrington (Death Fang's Bane--first human to be adopted by treecats) and Lionheart, (treecat Climbs Quickly of the Bright Water Clan) Continuing the story of the struggles, prejudices, greed and political intrigue surrounding the treecats becoming part of the wider universe.
Tree cats on Sphinx are still being looked at to determine whether or not they should be declared sentinent. The battles continues with the major foe being unscrupulous land dealers and powerful lobbyists desirous of making good on their land portfolios at the expense of this vunerable group of beings.
The battle takes Stephanie off planet to Manticore and back, members of the group, wanting to disrupt the process of treecat status, having pulled strings to have her removed from Sphinx.
Attention to the treecats on Sphinx lands in the laps of Stephanie's friend Jessica and boyfriend Anders.
The aftermath of the fires in Fire Season is explored from the human and the treecat perspective.
Unwillingness to share land, a cold blooded killing, starvation and fear push the treecat clans to the brink of war. A Person (treecat) on the edge of insanity had, 'in defiance of custom, tradition and common sense...killed another.' This would have far reaching consequences for treecats and humans.
This third novel in the series ends with the presence of those who want to halt the process of treecats being declared sentinent as yet undetected, and therefore to all intents purposes, at large to continue their nefarious campaign.
A must for fans who wish too know all there is to know about the Harrington family antecedents and treecats in particular.
A NetGalley ARC
Third in the series about Stephanie Harrington (Death Fang's Bane--first human to be adopted by treecats) and Lionheart, (treecat Climbs Quickly of the Bright Water Clan) Continuing the story of the struggles, prejudices, greed and political intrigue surrounding the treecats becoming part of the wider universe.
Tree cats on Sphinx are still being looked at to determine whether or not they should be declared sentinent. The battles continues with the major foe being unscrupulous land dealers and powerful lobbyists desirous of making good on their land portfolios at the expense of this vunerable group of beings.
The battle takes Stephanie off planet to Manticore and back, members of the group, wanting to disrupt the process of treecat status, having pulled strings to have her removed from Sphinx.
Attention to the treecats on Sphinx lands in the laps of Stephanie's friend Jessica and boyfriend Anders.
The aftermath of the fires in Fire Season is explored from the human and the treecat perspective.
Unwillingness to share land, a cold blooded killing, starvation and fear push the treecat clans to the brink of war. A Person (treecat) on the edge of insanity had, 'in defiance of custom, tradition and common sense...killed another.' This would have far reaching consequences for treecats and humans.
This third novel in the series ends with the presence of those who want to halt the process of treecats being declared sentinent as yet undetected, and therefore to all intents purposes, at large to continue their nefarious campaign.
A must for fans who wish too know all there is to know about the Harrington family antecedents and treecats in particular.
A NetGalley ARC
January 9, 2018
eARC provided by netgalley and Baen books. I love David Weber and treecats and was very excited to be approved for this book.
The treecats are the book. We see them fleshed out. While the humans are debating how sentient they are and whether to lock them up on reservations for "their own good" (that would be the evil humans) the treecats are fighting amongst themselves over scarce resources and territory. We see them making choices to harm or disable without killing. We see them getting clever in communicating with humans.
The trope I disliked most in the book: teenage girl debates taking a fantastic educational opportunity because boy! Boy! Did we really have to do there? At least boy does the right thing... Well until later teenage angst is added but that would be a spoiler. I feel like Weber may be dumbing the books down more than is needed for the intended audience.
We bounce back and forth between two story lines. Most of the book is devoted to the story of the friends left behind. I missed more depth to Stephanie's story but really enjoyed the story of Anders and Jessica and a number of treecats.
I enjoyed the book, read it in a few hours, but it's not among my favorites. Favorite scenes were all treecats and no humans.
The treecats are the book. We see them fleshed out. While the humans are debating how sentient they are and whether to lock them up on reservations for "their own good" (that would be the evil humans) the treecats are fighting amongst themselves over scarce resources and territory. We see them making choices to harm or disable without killing. We see them getting clever in communicating with humans.
The trope I disliked most in the book: teenage girl debates taking a fantastic educational opportunity because boy! Boy! Did we really have to do there? At least boy does the right thing... Well until later teenage angst is added but that would be a spoiler. I feel like Weber may be dumbing the books down more than is needed for the intended audience.
We bounce back and forth between two story lines. Most of the book is devoted to the story of the friends left behind. I missed more depth to Stephanie's story but really enjoyed the story of Anders and Jessica and a number of treecats.
I enjoyed the book, read it in a few hours, but it's not among my favorites. Favorite scenes were all treecats and no humans.
December 30, 2013
This is the third book in the Stephanie Harrington series and it is advisable to read them it orders. This book takes place after the forest fires of book two. Stephanie and Karl are off to Manticore to take the course required for Forest Rangers. Special arrangements had to be made so Lionheart, her treecat, could travel and stay with Stephanie. Meanwhile back on Sphinx Jessica with her treecat Dirt Grubber and Anders discover a clan of treecats who is displaced when the fires destroyed their home area. They are clashing with another clan who has had some of their lands destroyed by fire and if the other clan comes to stay in their lands there will not be enough food to support them all through the winter. There apparently is one treecat who is mentally challenge to cope and attacks the Land Lost Clan. Jessica and Ander help with first aid and food and take one badly injured treecat to physician Scot who treats him. There is a lot of information about the treecats in this story as well as some teenage romance. The book also sets up for the next book with problems with a foundation that has bought a lot of land on Sphinx. This book is aim at YA market but adults will like it also. As a fan of the Honor Harrington series I read anything Weber writes about the Harrington world. Kristine Hvam does a good job narrating the book.
July 3, 2017
I like the Honorverse as it is now being called. I've been less diligent in reading through the Honor novels. This new series--Star Kingdom novels--being significantly different from the military focus has appealed to me from the start. I find the treecats interesting, but I have not found the time to begin. As a result, I once again leaped into a series out of order, but I couldn't resist when I got the opportunity to read the eARC of this novel.
Despite being the third novel in a series, I was not handicapped by lack of familiarity with the characters or earlier stories. While previous events are mentioned, sufficient information is given to the reader to make this background useful. On some levels this is a continuing sequence of "first contact" novels between humans and an alien species. The ongoing drama revolving around sentience.
Stephanie Harrington and her friends are appealing characters. The pacing is well done, even as the story lines diverge and then link back. I enjoyed the novel very much. This would be a strong addition to both the YA and Science Fiction sections of public libraries.
Despite being the third novel in a series, I was not handicapped by lack of familiarity with the characters or earlier stories. While previous events are mentioned, sufficient information is given to the reader to make this background useful. On some levels this is a continuing sequence of "first contact" novels between humans and an alien species. The ongoing drama revolving around sentience.
Stephanie Harrington and her friends are appealing characters. The pacing is well done, even as the story lines diverge and then link back. I enjoyed the novel very much. This would be a strong addition to both the YA and Science Fiction sections of public libraries.
February 17, 2017
I didn’t really enjoy this book very much, to be honest I only kept reading to find out how the whole trilogy ended.
The problems started when Stephanie and Karl move to Manticore and the story starts to fragment. Until the very end of the book, what happens on Manticore is extremely tedious while on Sphinx I found the Jessica / Anders story a bit of a distraction put in by the authors to appeal to a teenage romance audience.
The Treecat sections were interesting but overall the book was too slow and a bit boring. Finally the end felt unfinished, as though there was at least another chapter or two that had been lost by the publisher.
The problems started when Stephanie and Karl move to Manticore and the story starts to fragment. Until the very end of the book, what happens on Manticore is extremely tedious while on Sphinx I found the Jessica / Anders story a bit of a distraction put in by the authors to appeal to a teenage romance audience.
The Treecat sections were interesting but overall the book was too slow and a bit boring. Finally the end felt unfinished, as though there was at least another chapter or two that had been lost by the publisher.
December 9, 2021
Sadly, Treecat Wars, like Fire Season before it, lacked the magic that made the first book in this series great. I don't know if it's Weber and Lindskold trying to make it more YA acceptable, but there isn't that extra something in this book that takes a book from good to great.
That said, it's still a solid book. I enjoyed watching some of the secondary characters come into their own. The setting and plot were solid as well. the only thing I would have really like to of had is a map.
That said, it's still a solid book. I enjoyed watching some of the secondary characters come into their own. The setting and plot were solid as well. the only thing I would have really like to of had is a map.
February 17, 2018
2018 re-read. Excellent story.
March 31, 2015
A good collaboration and I hope Lindskold will write more in the Honorverse. In case you missed it, see Changer of Worlds for the treecat 'breakout'.
January 5, 2017
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 2.5 of 5
It is a little strange that while I consider myself a 'cat person' (I've always had at least one, if not two cats living with me as long as I can remember) and I really like YA books, I have never been drawn to books which prominently feature feline characters. I was drawn to this book by one of the authors whose work I was curious to look at.
This is the third book in a series but I didn't feel that I missed too much by not having read the previous books. Weber and Lindskold do a good job of giving the reader the necessary background information.
Stephanie Harrington and her family are recent settlers on Sphinx (we get that cat connection right away!). Stephanie appears to have a strong psychic(?) bond with one of the native species, treecats, by the name of "Lionheart." This development is something that must be described in one of the earlier books. Stephanie is invited to speak before a council where she urges people to recognize the treecats as an intelligent species.
But something strange is happening. Treecats are being attacked in unusual numbers and as unlikely as it would seem, it appears the attackers are other treecats. Stephanie will need to get to the bottom of this and she needs to elicit help to do so.
This is an adventure fantasy for teen girls and as such it has touches of teen angst and plenty of up-and-down woes over relationships. The story has a good deal of potential for those of us who aren't teen girls - an indigenous life form facing a new threat with the arrival of outside life - but the plot does not seem to be the priority here. The priority is Stephanie Harrington and what she does and what she goes through.
I'd like to learn more about the treecats (which is a little unusual for me) and I am very curious about this bond with a teen girl. Why her? Why is she unique, or are there others who haven't mentioned it? And I'm very interested in a story about ecological damage. Which means I am curious enough to want to read the earlier books in the series and potentially curious enough to read anything that comes later. However, the book doesn't rate too highly because it just doesn't seem to really grab hold of any of these things directly, but instead tries to do it all which only muddies everything.
Looking for a good book? Treecat Wars by David Weber and Jane Lindskold is maybe just right for teen girls who love fantasy and cats, but it doesn't rise above this to appeal to other readers.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
It is a little strange that while I consider myself a 'cat person' (I've always had at least one, if not two cats living with me as long as I can remember) and I really like YA books, I have never been drawn to books which prominently feature feline characters. I was drawn to this book by one of the authors whose work I was curious to look at.
This is the third book in a series but I didn't feel that I missed too much by not having read the previous books. Weber and Lindskold do a good job of giving the reader the necessary background information.
Stephanie Harrington and her family are recent settlers on Sphinx (we get that cat connection right away!). Stephanie appears to have a strong psychic(?) bond with one of the native species, treecats, by the name of "Lionheart." This development is something that must be described in one of the earlier books. Stephanie is invited to speak before a council where she urges people to recognize the treecats as an intelligent species.
But something strange is happening. Treecats are being attacked in unusual numbers and as unlikely as it would seem, it appears the attackers are other treecats. Stephanie will need to get to the bottom of this and she needs to elicit help to do so.
This is an adventure fantasy for teen girls and as such it has touches of teen angst and plenty of up-and-down woes over relationships. The story has a good deal of potential for those of us who aren't teen girls - an indigenous life form facing a new threat with the arrival of outside life - but the plot does not seem to be the priority here. The priority is Stephanie Harrington and what she does and what she goes through.
I'd like to learn more about the treecats (which is a little unusual for me) and I am very curious about this bond with a teen girl. Why her? Why is she unique, or are there others who haven't mentioned it? And I'm very interested in a story about ecological damage. Which means I am curious enough to want to read the earlier books in the series and potentially curious enough to read anything that comes later. However, the book doesn't rate too highly because it just doesn't seem to really grab hold of any of these things directly, but instead tries to do it all which only muddies everything.
Looking for a good book? Treecat Wars by David Weber and Jane Lindskold is maybe just right for teen girls who love fantasy and cats, but it doesn't rise above this to appeal to other readers.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2020
In this final novel of the Star Kingdom trilogy, Stephanie and Karl are delegated to Manticore for Ranger training. They are both provisional rangers and young, but the terrible fire season just past has left the service shorthanded of full-time rangers and Chief Warden Shelton doesn’t want the slots to go unused. Stephanie has reservations about leaving Anders for 3 months, but she expects to be very absorbed in her college level work.
While Stephanie and Karl are away, stresses on clans of treecats (lack of territory, food for the coming 16-month winter) cause violence and death. Anders and Jessica must team up to help. There are several interpersonal issues/treecat issues to be resolved. We learn a lot more about treecats and their traditions. There is heartbreak, resolution, madness, empathy, and new love. Highly recommended as a series. Extremely disappointed that there are no new titles in the series.
Readalikes:
Patrick Ness – The Knife of Never Letting Go; Marissa Meyers’ Cinder series; Joshua McCune – Talker 25; Belinda Crawford – Hero; Claudia Gray – Defy the Stars; Allyson Braithwaite Condie – Matched; Karen Bao – Dove Arising; P. C. Cast – Moon Chosen; Beth Revis – Across the Universe; Kate Thompson – Fourth World; David Klass – Firestorm; Ann Halam – Dr. Franklin’s Island; Anne McCaffrey & Elizabeth Ann Scarborough – Catalyst; Andre Norton & Lyn McConchie – Beast Master’s Ark; Olivia A. Cole – A Conspiracy of Stars; Amie Kaufman – Aurora Rising.
Pace: Fast-paced
Characters: Well-developed; engaging; likable; strong women; ethical
Storyline: World-building
Writing style: Engaging; compelling
Tone: Suspenseful; upbeat
Frame: Planet Sphinx and Manticore in the Manticore System; post diaspora 1518-1521
Theme: Space colonization; human/’animal’ friendships
While Stephanie and Karl are away, stresses on clans of treecats (lack of territory, food for the coming 16-month winter) cause violence and death. Anders and Jessica must team up to help. There are several interpersonal issues/treecat issues to be resolved. We learn a lot more about treecats and their traditions. There is heartbreak, resolution, madness, empathy, and new love. Highly recommended as a series. Extremely disappointed that there are no new titles in the series.
Readalikes:
Patrick Ness – The Knife of Never Letting Go; Marissa Meyers’ Cinder series; Joshua McCune – Talker 25; Belinda Crawford – Hero; Claudia Gray – Defy the Stars; Allyson Braithwaite Condie – Matched; Karen Bao – Dove Arising; P. C. Cast – Moon Chosen; Beth Revis – Across the Universe; Kate Thompson – Fourth World; David Klass – Firestorm; Ann Halam – Dr. Franklin’s Island; Anne McCaffrey & Elizabeth Ann Scarborough – Catalyst; Andre Norton & Lyn McConchie – Beast Master’s Ark; Olivia A. Cole – A Conspiracy of Stars; Amie Kaufman – Aurora Rising.
Pace: Fast-paced
Characters: Well-developed; engaging; likable; strong women; ethical
Storyline: World-building
Writing style: Engaging; compelling
Tone: Suspenseful; upbeat
Frame: Planet Sphinx and Manticore in the Manticore System; post diaspora 1518-1521
Theme: Space colonization; human/’animal’ friendships
September 23, 2021
I'd been waiting to read this book because I'd heard that it has an ending suggesting a further book. I'd kind of been waiting for that to come out, so that I could read them close together. That hasn't happened, though, so I went ahead and read this one.
Weirdly, it was the non-human characters of the story who got the best scenes and the best character development in this story. I had expected Stephanie to be more "center stage," but even in the parts of the story in which she was heavily involved, the story seemed oddly sketchy. I know that at this point in the Manticore story that the communications between humans and Treecats are not fully developed, but she seemed oddly dense about the emotions she was picking up from her Treecat partner.
The actual conflict between the Treecat clans was fascinating, especially the resolution, which cleared up the parts of the story which hadn't quite made sense, based on what we knew of their culture and thought processes.
I did enjoy the parts of the story involving the Rangers, but Stephanie's parents were pushed a little too much into the background, I think. Maybe that's just me, but that felt odd.
Still, the story was an exciting multi-species adventure that left enough plot threads dangling that there needs to be a fourth book to the series. Sadly, there hasn't been one so far.
Weirdly, it was the non-human characters of the story who got the best scenes and the best character development in this story. I had expected Stephanie to be more "center stage," but even in the parts of the story in which she was heavily involved, the story seemed oddly sketchy. I know that at this point in the Manticore story that the communications between humans and Treecats are not fully developed, but she seemed oddly dense about the emotions she was picking up from her Treecat partner.
The actual conflict between the Treecat clans was fascinating, especially the resolution, which cleared up the parts of the story which hadn't quite made sense, based on what we knew of their culture and thought processes.
I did enjoy the parts of the story involving the Rangers, but Stephanie's parents were pushed a little too much into the background, I think. Maybe that's just me, but that felt odd.
Still, the story was an exciting multi-species adventure that left enough plot threads dangling that there needs to be a fourth book to the series. Sadly, there hasn't been one so far.
February 18, 2025
The writing is consistent. If you liked the previous two novels, then you will like this one equally well.
In this story, the disasters of the "Fire Season" have led to a lack of resources for the treecats. Treecat clans in the blighted areas have been encroaching on the lands of other treecats as the winter approaches and it is clear that many will die of starvation without built up stores for the winter. This sparks a war and many of the treecats are forced to depend on the kindness of these strange human "two-legs".
Any problems with the story? Nothing serious for this age bracket. The solution seemed obvious, but it took the characters some time to figure it out. I would expect this lesser level of complexity for a novel aimed at young teens.
I will probably read this book again some time in the future as part of reading the series. The next book in the series is "A New Clan".
In this story, the disasters of the "Fire Season" have led to a lack of resources for the treecats. Treecat clans in the blighted areas have been encroaching on the lands of other treecats as the winter approaches and it is clear that many will die of starvation without built up stores for the winter. This sparks a war and many of the treecats are forced to depend on the kindness of these strange human "two-legs".
Any problems with the story? Nothing serious for this age bracket. The solution seemed obvious, but it took the characters some time to figure it out. I would expect this lesser level of complexity for a novel aimed at young teens.
I will probably read this book again some time in the future as part of reading the series. The next book in the series is "A New Clan".
August 28, 2017
My Thoughts:
Unlike the previous books, this one has a more layered plot this time. The authors threw in a couple of unexpected twists, which is great! So the character development and the world building has long been established a long time ago with the previous books. And also like the previous books, this one is also a very good read! This being the third installment in a trilogy, I was kinda hoping for a great grand finale to the Stephanie Harrington series... but it wasn't... it was just kind of another book in the series with lots of room for more to come. But this book having been published in 2013, I don't think there will be another installment in this series, like five years later, which is the greatest downer with Treecat Wars. Of course, there is always a hope that the authors will someday pick it up again and write another installment... hopefully.... As usual, the narration is fabulous! Can't complain with Khristine Hvam at all!
Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 5
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 5
Pace = 4.5
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 5
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Unlike the previous books, this one has a more layered plot this time. The authors threw in a couple of unexpected twists, which is great! So the character development and the world building has long been established a long time ago with the previous books. And also like the previous books, this one is also a very good read! This being the third installment in a trilogy, I was kinda hoping for a great grand finale to the Stephanie Harrington series... but it wasn't... it was just kind of another book in the series with lots of room for more to come. But this book having been published in 2013, I don't think there will be another installment in this series, like five years later, which is the greatest downer with Treecat Wars. Of course, there is always a hope that the authors will someday pick it up again and write another installment... hopefully.... As usual, the narration is fabulous! Can't complain with Khristine Hvam at all!
Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 5
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 5
Pace = 4.5
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 5
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
October 31, 2016
Well, this went in a new direction.
Book 3 of a YA series, you don't have to know the first 2 to like this one.
Stephanie & her treecat have an offer to go to forestry college - an amazing offer since she's so young, but she earned it. This takes her to a completely new stage, and gives some other people in her home-town a turn on the page. Meanwhile, the human settlers are limiting the space treecats can live after a fire burns them out, hence the war.... (with all these settlers, are they all white? seemed that way to me) And Stephanie isn't there to save the day! Someone else will have to save it :)
Stephanie goes off without her boyfriend, so relationships all around will come under the microscope, too.
Meanwhile, Ye Bad Guys are still around, and still want the tree-cats to be labeled non-sentient. If that doesn't work, there's some backup plans to work with...
Fun story.
Book 3 of a YA series, you don't have to know the first 2 to like this one.
Stephanie & her treecat have an offer to go to forestry college - an amazing offer since she's so young, but she earned it. This takes her to a completely new stage, and gives some other people in her home-town a turn on the page. Meanwhile, the human settlers are limiting the space treecats can live after a fire burns them out, hence the war.... (with all these settlers, are they all white? seemed that way to me) And Stephanie isn't there to save the day! Someone else will have to save it :)
Stephanie goes off without her boyfriend, so relationships all around will come under the microscope, too.
Meanwhile, Ye Bad Guys are still around, and still want the tree-cats to be labeled non-sentient. If that doesn't work, there's some backup plans to work with...
Fun story.
July 5, 2025
Nice YA sci-fi, with some good socio-political-economic critique and a healthy dose of historical awareness among the humans. Read this for the sci-fi book club I'm in, and only when I came to write about it here in Goodreads do i see that it is #3 in a series. That may explain why the glossary in the back fails to define a number of terms that come up over and over: They were probably thoroughly explored in the previous books.
Like any good YA novel, it ends when the young people's romantic affairs are sorted out. That allows for a hopeful take on the future of the larger story of how the treecats and humans will live together, without having to provide any final resolution -- perhaps the author went on to write more books in this series? Anyway, I liked the inclusion of characters doing evil deeds in pursuit of material benefit, and getting their comeuppance -- such a nice contrast to our current nightmarish situation.
p.s. Just checked, and there are 5 books in this series.
Like any good YA novel, it ends when the young people's romantic affairs are sorted out. That allows for a hopeful take on the future of the larger story of how the treecats and humans will live together, without having to provide any final resolution -- perhaps the author went on to write more books in this series? Anyway, I liked the inclusion of characters doing evil deeds in pursuit of material benefit, and getting their comeuppance -- such a nice contrast to our current nightmarish situation.
p.s. Just checked, and there are 5 books in this series.
April 22, 2018
Rather marginal for a Honor Harrington book, but it manages to come on strong at the end.
It seems like a sacrilege to give David Weber and Jane Lingsfold a mere 3, but I couldn't support anything higher in good conscience. I thought the first half of this book was worse than marginal - it was boring! I had serious trouble getting through it. IMHO the plot was weak, and the interaction between Stephanie and Anders more than justified the Young Readers label - it was maudlin, which is even worse than boring! I mean, give me a break. My opinion is obviously not humble, nor am I a literary expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I know what I like and that wasn't it.
The last part of the book almost compensated for the first half, but not quite.
It seems like a sacrilege to give David Weber and Jane Lingsfold a mere 3, but I couldn't support anything higher in good conscience. I thought the first half of this book was worse than marginal - it was boring! I had serious trouble getting through it. IMHO the plot was weak, and the interaction between Stephanie and Anders more than justified the Young Readers label - it was maudlin, which is even worse than boring! I mean, give me a break. My opinion is obviously not humble, nor am I a literary expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I know what I like and that wasn't it.
The last part of the book almost compensated for the first half, but not quite.
August 6, 2017
This is the third book in David Weber's little prequel series to Honor Harrington. It's also squarely aimed at a YA audience, but it doesn't pander to them. He carries over the depth of the universe he's created for that other series and even hints at the political intrigue that is part of the more adult series.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit - as I've enjoyed the others. This one had a little less action than I prefer, but it had its moments. If you have read the other books in the series, it does an excellent job of continuing to explore those characters. I would recommend reading the others first, if you haven't read them.
All in all, an easy and fun read!
I enjoyed this book quite a bit - as I've enjoyed the others. This one had a little less action than I prefer, but it had its moments. If you have read the other books in the series, it does an excellent job of continuing to explore those characters. I would recommend reading the others first, if you haven't read them.
All in all, an easy and fun read!
July 11, 2025
This is a YA series, that's ok. However, this one had the same problem many of the romantasies have, weighted too much to romance. At least the YA reality of how fickle teen relations are is real.
Stephanie and Karl finally go to Manticore, but for training while the sentience issue still drags on. Anders and Jessica deal with treecat fallout from the fire in the previous book, with violence between clans. The interesting conversations between the treecats, though, don't save this one.
Stephanie and Karl finally go to Manticore, but for training while the sentience issue still drags on. Anders and Jessica deal with treecat fallout from the fire in the previous book, with violence between clans. The interesting conversations between the treecats, though, don't save this one.
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