"I can't believe you would keep this a secret! Do you know how dangerous they are? Do you know what they would do to you if they found out?" "Me? Keeping secrets?! You are the one who has been doing everything in secret!"
Sixteen-year-old Addison Nora is about to go on a pilgrimage across the stars. Like all biokin, it's the first time she's left her planet. But before she can get passage to another solar system, she finds herself helping a creature from myth and legend on the spacestation of the Evo corporation. And suddenly, she finds herself with new powers she doesn't know what to do with.
To make things worse, the brazen pilot, Mila Riley, who is transporting Addi, is keeping her own secrets. Every step of the way, Mila is leading them closer and closer toward danger.
Addi needs to navigate a new world she doesn't understand, get a handle on her new powers and work out what is truth or lies before Mila's secrets get them both killed.
But if Addi fails, there are more lives at stake than she realizes...
Spencer Rose writes YA sci-fi adventures with a sapphic twist. Her series starts with Sapling's Orbit (2020) and ends with Sapling's Rising (2024). Based in Sydney, she loves meeting readers and will always say hi to your dog.
I would recommend this to anyone who liked Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves, and anyone who is looking for a short read set in space.
Sapling's Orbit is a short but sweet story. We have a teenager who is in a transitional period of her life, leaving her home where she lives with her people who have a connection to the forest. I really liked the lore of how her people came to be on this planet.
She comes of the age where she will have to go on a year long quest off-world, one she will take on alone, one of self discovery. She learns of a large corporation offering money for one of her people to consult with them. She's able to get off world with the help of a pilot, another girl her age, who has motives of her own for wanting to go to the corporation.
Once there, our main character learns some shocking information and acquires a power she previously didn't have.
I really liked the ideas here, and the prose was totally fine. My issue is that I think these are too grand of ideas to do in such a short story. I was really left wanting, and felt that I didn't have time to really get a good understanding of who our main character was. In books where the main character is coming of age, and going on a journey of self discovery, it's hard to get to know them unless we experience that full journey with them. I feel like, in every way with this book, we had just started to scratch the surface before it ended.
That said, I recognize that is fully subjective and other readers may not mind it. This was atmospheric enough that I think many other readers will find it enjoyable. It has what seems to be a Monsanto-type corporation in charge of food in this universe, and I think that there is potential for having readers consider food production through a new lens after reading this. I really loved our pilot (possible love interest?) who was tenacious and smart and fun. I do wish that our main character had had more personality, but I assume that will come later in this series.
Sapling's Orbit by Spencer Rose is a great start to a YA (teen) sci-fi space adventure. It does not have a complete ending, as there are three more in The Biokin Chronicles; each is not standalone. Our naive Biokin Addison has turned sixteen and embarked on her customary pilgrimage off-world. Biokins can connect with and understand plants and they grow up in the forest honing their skill. Addison ends up with space-wise Mila for a pilot to transport her to her first job. The two come in contact with the shady agribusiness called Evo. The world-building is very good for such a short read. It was easy to understand their surroundings. The two girls share their secrets and become friends. The relationship is organic and believable. The writing is very accessible for a younger audience and still enjoyable for folks my age. It is a quick, fun read and interesting enough to lead me to finish the series. I received a free ARC from the author. This is my honest opinion.
This is a very short read but I genuinely enjoyed it. Very fast paced and yet the world building and character background are shown and explained concisely. I love the how the characters' friendship is starting to form on this book; it's not forced. I love the world building the most because it is so easy to understand and to follow. Definitely worth the read 💚
🌸 Recieved a copy from the author but all thoughts and opinions are my own
This was a fun read. The concept was intriguing, the world building interesting. It picks up the pace quite quickly and becomes a bit of a page turner. I loved the budding chemistry between the two main characters and could easily imagine their interactions like a movie playing in my head. The dialogue was natural and flowed well.There were also quite a few funny moments - Roger - I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next.
Sapling's Orbit is the first novella in the Biokin Chronicles tetralogy, and it's a fun, quick read with an interesting premise. It kicks us off on a nice YA sci-fi adventure, introducing the main characters in the series, Addison and Mila, and establishing the universe they'll be traversing over the next three installments.
I really enjoyed the concept and characters: Addison is a naive biokin, or person who has an affinity for and ability to connect with plants, and Mila is a somewhat jaded pilot who grew up too quickly, and reluctantly agrees to take Addison into space on the first leg of her pilgrimage, which all biokin embark on when reaching the age of 16. I did find the dialogue to be a bit stilted at times and felt like there was a bit of inconsistency in the writing, but for a debut book it was fairly well thought out and it was imaginative. Overall a solid story.
I received a free ARC from the author, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.
A fun read, not a deep read. I'd describe this as a high interest, low reading level book, making it approachable for older YA struggling readers. It's a short, fast-paced read.
We have Addison, a "ten and six years old" Biokin, who is leaving on her pilgrammage, a right of passage for her community. Similar to rumspringa for the Amish. She impulsively leaves and leaves her planet with a pilot Mila, who is really only in to helping herself (at least, at first, I think). It quickly becomes a much bigger adventure than just seeing what there is outside her community and off her planet.
The world-building was interesting. Lots of description, so you could "see it." Some intrigue into what Evo (read "suspicious corporation"). It was both enough (for a novella) and not enough for me. Character development was a bit lacking, to my mind, but you do clearly see that Addison is innocent and very sheltered and that Mila is her perfect foil--worldy and brazen.
Couple of things that niggle at my brain. First, there were a couple of times that I really thought "a publisher should have caught that. Things like a couple of places that the wrong word is used and another place where a setting is described in detail two times, several pages apart. Second, I have seen this listed as LGBT fiction in two places now. I don't see it. There is no romance, and honestly there is no time for it in 113 pages that take place over 48-72 hours (in my best estimation). Perhaps in the second installment in this series, there will be some inkling in it, but this title does not lend itself to any sort of romantic relationship on its own.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Sapling's Orbit is the compelling beginning to The Biokin Chronicles, centred around the young biokin Addison, who at the beginning of this novella has just come of age and so must embark on her interstellar pilgrimage, a tradition of her people. Unlike regular humans, biokin can connect with the plants around them, an ability that is highly prized by certain people in the universe.
I really enjoyed seeing the way the biokin live and then how they interact with the wider world through Addi's eyes. As someone who is always skeptical of big companies/corporations (because obviously), I really liked the 'Evo is super suss what is going on with them' storyline (that's not a spoiler haha it's pretty obvious).
If there was one thing I wanted more of, it was some deeper characterisation of both Addi and Mila, but this was a novella and it's hard to fit all of the plot and character development you want into not much space. I'm hoping that there'll be more of this in book 2!
Overall I quite enjoyed Sapling's Orbit and I'm interested to see how the story develops further in the subsequent books!
Fun middle-grade to YA pulp sci-fi space opera with an eco-friendly twist. Addi comes from a community that is tightly intertwined with nature - literally, and is unfamiliar with anything outside their lands. When she comes of age she is sent off planet on a 1 year adventure which I suppose could be compared to going English on a rumspringa except her trip goes sideways before it even begins. Luckily she makes a new friend - or maybe more - to help her navigate the mess she find herself in - or does she? Cue a planet-hopping, corporate espionage filled, twist a minute adventure!
This first book in the Biokin Chronicles, I think this book did an excellent job building a complex world while telling a fast-paced exciting story. It does a great job of appealing to the target audience. Older readers might need to suspend a bit more disbelief or might recognize more of the tropes, but it is still a well told entertaining story. Huge reveal at the end that will make you want to know what comes next.
Ok, so the only thing that upset me was that it's so short! I want to read more!!!
I loved Addi's naive awareness of everything because of the fact that she is from a community that sticks to their own kind. It made some of the moments really funny. I loved Mila's kick-ass attitude and intense focus. They are total opposites, which showed from their first meeting, making their growing connection more special. I can't wait to see how their relationship continues to grow in the next book.
I loved the storyline, and how it made me not want to put the book down. Come on book two, I need more!
Thanks, Spencer Rose for this cute novella, book one of The Biokin Chronicles.
Addison was on the run. She ran at full speed and stumbled on the red sand that appeared purple in the moonlight. She couldn't even see the forest anymore...
Mila urged her to hurry. Quick, faster... They were running for their lives...
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An eventful start for this science-fiction/youth dystopia which features a young girl, Addison, 16, who has gone on a traditional "pilgrimage" to people of her age.
A chance meeting, an opportunity, and here is the beginning of a great but dangerous adventure!
I really liked the characters and the plot. I can't wait to read the sequel.
I recommend this tumultuous sci-fi/youth dystopia. ❤🌌🚀
“Remember that we all change. It can be hard to grow and change. Sometimes we feel like nothing is happening, but all that energy results in a beautiful transformation in time. Like a seed into a sunflower. Be open to the transformation.”
I enjoyed reading Sapling’s orbit. I really liked the mix of science fiction and fantasy, there were a lot of interesting elements. I like how there are mention of elements that show the universe in Sapling’s orbit is much bigger than what we see. I am a fan of how the world is described, it works well. I loved reading about Addison’s feelings and thoughts, it was interesting to read. I like Addison and Mila, it was fun to read their interactions with each other. I am looking forward to read the rest of the series.
If ‘A New Hope’ was a Young Adult Sci-Fi Novella you’d get ‘Sapling’s Orbit’
This is a cute and quick novella with easy to like characters, intriguing world building and fast paced writing. Addi is a Biokin about to leave her planet for the first time and we follow along to see the universe through her naive eyes as she embarks on her adventure.
I’m left intrigued and excited for the next instalment. The connection between Addi and Mila is still building and developing into something special and I can’t wait to see more from them.
If you’re looking for a cute, fun read about space adventures, this one is for you.
This was such a fun and fairly quick read. It was really unique and although it had quite a complex world, it was still easy to follow and understand. One of those books that you can just keep on reading without feeling like you need to take a break sort of thing.
I really enjoyed the main character and her wild adventures. Her world was interesting and I love the idea of the forest, however when she started her journey: it got quite intense and dangerous! I loved the background setting for this.
A great read which I recommend and a cover that I just love!
Honestly picked this up cause the first book was a free kindle download. Wouldn’t have normally grabbed it cause I’m not big on space fantasy stuff but my curiosity got the best of me. That said I’m digging the concept. The world building is there and decently done for the most part. It’s helpful that Addison is essentially learning about the universe beyond her planet with the reader so it feels like a natural flow of information. I’ll be picking up the next book. As a side note this will definitely be a SLOW burn relationship development. lol 8/10 would still recommend
Charming coming of age YA solarpunk, with magnificent world-building and fantastic characters. The Biokin communicate directly with the natural world by sticking their fingers in the soil and becoming part of the wood-wide-web. But when a biokin comes of age, they must leave their planet for a period, to learn about other species and cultures. Sci-fi adventures ensue.
If you enjoyed the “Shantivira” series, you might want to add the “The Biokin Chronicles” to your TBR. They are short books which fit neatly together to form a larger story.
I loved the start to the Biokin Chronicles series, it had a great scifi element going on and it does a great job in being a great read. The characters were what I was looking for and I enjoyed getting to know Mila and Addi. I can't wait to read the sequel.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book was a pleasant surprise! I really enjoyed the concept of the book, the characters are well written and I’m very invested in what is going to happen next! It is also short, so not too much of an effort to read! I probably could have finished this in a sitting. Can’t wait to get stuck into book 2
The storytelling is really captivating, keeping the excitement alive throughout. The characters are well-developed, and the way the writer portrays the science is vivid and detailed, striking a perfect balance. It's just beautifully done. I've read all three and can't wait for the fourth! It is definitely a 5 star.
I went into reading this book not knowing what to expect since it was an ARC. I was so pleasantly surprised. The way the characters and plot is written kept me hooked. Excited to read the next one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a quick intro to a series read that is enjoyable. Paid the groundwork for what seems to be an interesting series. Liking the characters so far and will grab the next one to see how things progress.
This was such a fun read, and very unique. I feel really excited to continue this series and see where Addison and Mila go and how they're going to figure everything out
“Sapling’s Orbit” (Biokin Chronicles #1) by Spencer Rose ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: YA SciFi Novella. Location: Outer space. Time: Outer space present.
THE SERIES: Addison Nora is 16, and a Biokin. Her people live in the Nimbaii Forest Reserve. Biokins live in harmony with nature. Their houses are grown from living trees. They are human-enhanced with a mind connection to all plants, thanks to the mythological “Ancient Ones”. Addison is on her Year 16 Pilgrimage from her home to unknown planets in outer space to learn and grow. What will she find outside her simple forest life?
THIS BOOK: Addison finds passage off planet with pilot Mila Riley on Scout, her tiny, patched-together spaceship. Their 1st stop is Evo Corp space station for a consulting job which is not as benign as they expected. While there, Addison secretly mind-connects with and offers help to a sentient being trapped on the space station.
Addison suddenly finds herself with confusing new powers. When they head for the planet Prema, she discovers Mila has deep secrets and may be leading them into danger. While Addison tries to control her new powers, they both need to navigate a strange new world in order to survive.
Author Rose created Addison as an innocent observer of diverse worlds and people. It’s a lovely lens for us to view the story. She adds Addison’s opposite in Miley, providing a chance for discussions of difference, and adding some tension. Rose’s prose is warm, easy-to-read, and descriptive.
This is the beginning of a new series, and I’m excited to read book 2! It’s 4 stars from me 🌵📚💁🏼♀️. Thank you to Spencer Rose for this copy!
Sapling's Orbit is fantastic. Fast-paced, with enjoyable characters and an interesting world-building with the needed details to understand it but without saturating the reader. I loved how the relationship between Addi and Mila developed to a reluctant allyship for their survival against a common enemy. This book is easy to read, concise and perfect for any kind of person that wants to read space adventures along characters that have to adapt to this new life and, so, want to adapt with them and discover new things along with the characters. I can't wait to read book two and see how Addi and Mila's odissey unravels and they grow up together!