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Honorverse: Star Kingdom #5
Friends Indeed
A NEW NOVEL FEATURING STEPHANIE HARRINGTON IN HONORVERSE PREQUEL SERIES
What happens after the War of the Gods?
The answer lies in the Heart of the Mountain . . .
THE TROUBLE WITH TREECATS
Stephanie Harrington didn’t discover treecats—they were indigenous to the planet Sphinx, a colony of the tiny Star Kingdom of Manticore. But at age ten she was the first human to bond with one. Now, almost 17, she is the species greatest champion.
To the rest of the human galaxy, if they are known at all, they are recognized as tool using, socially organized, fuzzy little creatures, with no known method of communication—who also happen to be fierce hunters. But are they sapient . . .? Because if they are, that would have all sorts of repercussions for the families who have settled on Sphinx, the Harringtons not the least.
There will be winners, and there will be losers. And Stephanie is there to make sure the treecats don’t lose out.
But Stephanie, the treecats, and Sphinx itself may be caught up in an even greater conspiracy than the one to help the fighting ‘cats survive, one generations in the making . . .
What happens after the War of the Gods?
The answer lies in the Heart of the Mountain . . .
THE TROUBLE WITH TREECATS
Stephanie Harrington didn’t discover treecats—they were indigenous to the planet Sphinx, a colony of the tiny Star Kingdom of Manticore. But at age ten she was the first human to bond with one. Now, almost 17, she is the species greatest champion.
To the rest of the human galaxy, if they are known at all, they are recognized as tool using, socially organized, fuzzy little creatures, with no known method of communication—who also happen to be fierce hunters. But are they sapient . . .? Because if they are, that would have all sorts of repercussions for the families who have settled on Sphinx, the Harringtons not the least.
There will be winners, and there will be losers. And Stephanie is there to make sure the treecats don’t lose out.
But Stephanie, the treecats, and Sphinx itself may be caught up in an even greater conspiracy than the one to help the fighting ‘cats survive, one generations in the making . . .
576 pages, Hardcover
First published March 4, 2025
140 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
David Weber
322 books4,546 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
March 21, 2025
Another good addition to the series.
Overall, another fun and exciting addition to the series. Stephanie and her friends are learning more about the tree cats, while they deal with a tragic event.
Overall, another fun and exciting addition to the series. Stephanie and her friends are learning more about the tree cats, while they deal with a tragic event.
March 28, 2025
The fifth book in the Stephanie Harrington series has Stephanie and the other members of the Treecat Conspiracy adding more members since it is becoming more and more essential that treecats be recognized as a sentient species. The main stumbling block to the declaration of sentience is that treecats have no spoken or written language. While Stephanie and her cohorts are convinced that treecats are both empathic and telepathic, there are no tests available to prove that.
Enemies, both overt and covert, have vested interests in proving that the treecats are only animals. The overt ones like the Franchitti's see treecats as obstacles to their using the land given to them as land grants when they settled on Sphinx. Covert enemies also see the treecats as obstacles to their plans for future use of Sphinx.
And a new enemy is introduced. The Alignment whose goal is to genetically engineer superior humans, even though that is forbidden by the Beowulf Accords, would love it if the treecats were telepathic. They would love to experiment on them to see if telepathy could be added to their new, improved human genome.
Besides the focus on Stephanie and her new fiancé Karl, the story also stars Nosey Jones, a reporter being courted by the covert anti-treecat faction, and Trudy Fanchitti, who is finally finding a way to free herself from the abuse she has suffered since childhood at the hands of her father and brother.
While this was an excellent story, it is clearly not the last. The sentience of the treecats becomes much more apparent after a variety of incidents, but the covert enemies are not defeated and are still out there threatening treecats. The books ending, while not completely a cliffhanger, does leave a lot of issues to be resolved.
Enemies, both overt and covert, have vested interests in proving that the treecats are only animals. The overt ones like the Franchitti's see treecats as obstacles to their using the land given to them as land grants when they settled on Sphinx. Covert enemies also see the treecats as obstacles to their plans for future use of Sphinx.
And a new enemy is introduced. The Alignment whose goal is to genetically engineer superior humans, even though that is forbidden by the Beowulf Accords, would love it if the treecats were telepathic. They would love to experiment on them to see if telepathy could be added to their new, improved human genome.
Besides the focus on Stephanie and her new fiancé Karl, the story also stars Nosey Jones, a reporter being courted by the covert anti-treecat faction, and Trudy Fanchitti, who is finally finding a way to free herself from the abuse she has suffered since childhood at the hands of her father and brother.
While this was an excellent story, it is clearly not the last. The sentience of the treecats becomes much more apparent after a variety of incidents, but the covert enemies are not defeated and are still out there threatening treecats. The books ending, while not completely a cliffhanger, does leave a lot of issues to be resolved.
June 1, 2025
This is the first full length novel in the Honorverse series that expands upon the experiences of Honor Harrington’s ancestor Stephanie. The review excerpts on the back of the book are very valid for this story as well!
It is definitely difficult to put down, and despite the YA feel due to the age of the protagonist I think it gives a good story about highly intelligent & determined girl growing into a young woman any parent would take pride in.
Despite her age the story includes intrigue, violence and especially how honorable people can effect positive change in the world. The fact that she is a Forest Ranger allows for a reasonable amount of detail on being good stewards to their environment without being “preachy”. The detail that the author provides regarding the thoughts and feelings of the Treecats both allows us insight into the Treecat society along with their recognition of the drive to protect & serve give the Treecats knowledge about how there are many good people among the “Two-Legs” to counter the humans that lack honor.
While I will still look forward to more stories set in the timeline Honor Harrington lives in I will definitely be watching for more stories in this series as well!
It is definitely difficult to put down, and despite the YA feel due to the age of the protagonist I think it gives a good story about highly intelligent & determined girl growing into a young woman any parent would take pride in.
Despite her age the story includes intrigue, violence and especially how honorable people can effect positive change in the world. The fact that she is a Forest Ranger allows for a reasonable amount of detail on being good stewards to their environment without being “preachy”. The detail that the author provides regarding the thoughts and feelings of the Treecats both allows us insight into the Treecat society along with their recognition of the drive to protect & serve give the Treecats knowledge about how there are many good people among the “Two-Legs” to counter the humans that lack honor.
While I will still look forward to more stories set in the timeline Honor Harrington lives in I will definitely be watching for more stories in this series as well!
December 11, 2025
[8 August 2025]
I liked this book a lot more than I expected to.
The treecat books -- those in the "Honorverse: Star Kingdom" series -- are authored by David Weber and Jane Lindskold. My suspicion is that Ms. Lindskold has been the primary author, with Weber in a consulting role to insure consistency with the main Honorverse books. There's just a difference in style and substance. Before this the treecat books were short, limited in scope, and using a fresh, direct style that is not the case in the rest of the Honorverse. Nothing wrong with that, it worked well for the treecat stories.
However, from the first this one was different, much more in Weber's style. The plot is complex, with some of Weber's typical long-winded data dumps masquerading as conversations. And the scope was much wider, including political maneuvers in the rest of the Star Kingdom and even the rest of the galaxy. Still there was a lot of Lindskold, too, in the treecat characters and storyline. I'd say, in this book, they found a pretty good balance.
The book is long (over 500 pages), but moves quickly and without too much bloat. I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it. But you really need to have read the other books and several short stories that precede it in the series.
I liked this book a lot more than I expected to.
The treecat books -- those in the "Honorverse: Star Kingdom" series -- are authored by David Weber and Jane Lindskold. My suspicion is that Ms. Lindskold has been the primary author, with Weber in a consulting role to insure consistency with the main Honorverse books. There's just a difference in style and substance. Before this the treecat books were short, limited in scope, and using a fresh, direct style that is not the case in the rest of the Honorverse. Nothing wrong with that, it worked well for the treecat stories.
However, from the first this one was different, much more in Weber's style. The plot is complex, with some of Weber's typical long-winded data dumps masquerading as conversations. And the scope was much wider, including political maneuvers in the rest of the Star Kingdom and even the rest of the galaxy. Still there was a lot of Lindskold, too, in the treecat characters and storyline. I'd say, in this book, they found a pretty good balance.
The book is long (over 500 pages), but moves quickly and without too much bloat. I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it. But you really need to have read the other books and several short stories that precede it in the series.
April 6, 2025
A great addition to the series. I love how they recontextualize the Treecats and Human interactions in the early stages of societal contact. Reframing the language barrier and exploring how that effects how each group sees each other while weaving it into the story produces a page turning story. Can not wait for more!
March 21, 2025
I truly enjoyed this book! It definitely made me cry in spots, and I truly enjoyed seeing Stephanie and Karl’s relationship evolve, as well as numerous relationships between The People and the Sphinxians. It did leave plot threads unresolved for future novels, which I look forward to reading!
March 13, 2025
Stephanie Harrington is back. Honor Harrington's ancestor who first encountered treecats (and was adopted by one) at age 10. Stephanie is almost 17 now.
Treecats are recognized as "tool users, socially organized, fuzzy little creatures" (Amazon blurb) but are not legally considered sapient. Perhaps they are as "smart" as dolphins, say.
Treecats were living on the planet Sphinx long before the humans showed up and started "claiming" territories for themselves. Were treecats to be recognized as sapient (especially as much as Persons as humans themselves), this would be a really big deal for all those human "landowners".
No one argues that treecats have no known form of language. All they say is "bleek" and they have no written language either.
So how are treecat advocates going to prove their case, that treecats are indeed more than dumb animals?
Highly recommended for all David Weber & Jane Lindskold fans, treecat fans, series fans, and fans of well-told stories about interacting with other species!
Treecats are recognized as "tool users, socially organized, fuzzy little creatures" (Amazon blurb) but are not legally considered sapient. Perhaps they are as "smart" as dolphins, say.
Treecats were living on the planet Sphinx long before the humans showed up and started "claiming" territories for themselves. Were treecats to be recognized as sapient (especially as much as Persons as humans themselves), this would be a really big deal for all those human "landowners".
No one argues that treecats have no known form of language. All they say is "bleek" and they have no written language either.
So how are treecat advocates going to prove their case, that treecats are indeed more than dumb animals?
Highly recommended for all David Weber & Jane Lindskold fans, treecat fans, series fans, and fans of well-told stories about interacting with other species!
October 12, 2025
This book is a little slow to get started -- threatening to be another Weber's book full of meetings -- but it finds its legs and manages to pack a big emotional punch. The final sequence feels a bit contrived, but is nonetheless satisfying and tear-jerking, and it fits well with the book's title.
Weirdly, I'm a little peeved at the authors for setting up someone to die -- clearly it was coming, and it was ugly, and that was the point, but somehow I took it personally. Which is to say, I got attached to the characters.
The book's good from the "big picture" perspective, too. I enjoy how they explore how two intelligent species who can barely communicate grapple with understanding each other. Although I keep thinking, "Just teach them sign language!" despite knowing that these events happen well before someone figures that out.
The book also does a good job of showing us what will happen in the next book -- and it's cool to see how they're tying this story into the Alignment business.
Weirdly, I'm a little peeved at the authors for setting up someone to die -- clearly it was coming, and it was ugly, and that was the point, but somehow I took it personally. Which is to say, I got attached to the characters.
The book's good from the "big picture" perspective, too. I enjoy how they explore how two intelligent species who can barely communicate grapple with understanding each other. Although I keep thinking, "Just teach them sign language!" despite knowing that these events happen well before someone figures that out.
The book also does a good job of showing us what will happen in the next book -- and it's cool to see how they're tying this story into the Alignment business.
April 6, 2025
Fifth of the series. I hadn’t reread #4 yet, but had reread the first three enough times that I remembered those bits of backstory mentioned. The bits of backstory for #4 were enough for me to enjoy #5 even though I didn’t recall those events at all. If you are new to this series, I highly recommend A Beautiful Friendship even if you don’t want to read the whole series.
I enjoyed reading this book. Stephanie is now 16 and 17. There is a satisfying ending however there are at least two loose ends that will hopefully be addressed in book #6 if and when it is written. Solid addition to the series.
I enjoyed reading this book. Stephanie is now 16 and 17. There is a satisfying ending however there are at least two loose ends that will hopefully be addressed in book #6 if and when it is written. Solid addition to the series.
April 22, 2025
Praise and complaints 😀
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My only complaint, same as most of David Webers books, is that they end leaving significant unfinished issures. The Safe Hold series - good for another 10 - 15 books at least as Nimue drags the populations into being an advanced space going power, and defeat the enemy who nearly destroyed the human race.
Honor Harrington. There is still another 'Alignment' planet (Darius) to be sorted, plus a whole sector of of planets run by Alpha Line 'evil doers', and how did her 'defeat of the Solarian league' turn out? Talk about by having a hexapuma by the tail.
I am ex- Navy, 80 years old, and if David doesn't get on with tying up loose ends, I won't be still around to read them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My only complaint, same as most of David Webers books, is that they end leaving significant unfinished issures. The Safe Hold series - good for another 10 - 15 books at least as Nimue drags the populations into being an advanced space going power, and defeat the enemy who nearly destroyed the human race.
Honor Harrington. There is still another 'Alignment' planet (Darius) to be sorted, plus a whole sector of of planets run by Alpha Line 'evil doers', and how did her 'defeat of the Solarian league' turn out? Talk about by having a hexapuma by the tail.
I am ex- Navy, 80 years old, and if David doesn't get on with tying up loose ends, I won't be still around to read them.
December 1, 2024
More entertaining than recent installments as there is less teenage angst and more intrigue as well as more treecats (it is hard to believe that this is #5 in the series and only now we are really moving after the excellent book 1 with mediocre page adding books 2-4 - these 3 can be skippied without missing much as they have mostly side plots of little interest) ; finally the plot is moving towards the recognition of treecats as high level sentients (we of course know that from the original Honorverse novels) and there are plots and counter plots, an early look at the Alignment interference in stuff and many new interesting characters
July 17, 2025
The treecats are back and it's up to Stephanie and Karl to find ways to prove that they are more than just smart animals. They have been recognized as tool-users but do not seem to have any method of communication. Enter Trudy F. who develops a friendship with a treecat she names Fuzzy Friend. When he is murdered by her abusive brother, events are set in motion which point Steph and Karl in a new direction. I really like this series when it is focused on the treecats. Sometimes it's get a little talky when the characters are discussing political intrigues. No matter though as I will keep reading the series.
April 30, 2025
David Weber and Jane Lindskold continue their tale of treecats on Sphinx with a tale of Friends Indeed( Hard). One of her friends is mauled by her brother after the brother kills a treecat she had befriended. A flying bus of Explorers (think boy scouts) has an accident that could have turned fatal. The teenagers are helped by a local tribe of treecats. In the background are the bad guys who don’t want the treecats declared sapient. And oh yes Stephanie Harrington gets engaged. Lovable series.
March 20, 2025
Mesmerizing adventure!
The treecats are back! Their uncertain status of sentient or animal threatens their future on Sphinx. Stephanie Harrington and the Tree Cat Conspiracy group expand their tactics to ensure their safety. David Weber and Jane Lindskold have delivered another well-written entry to the series. I was glued to the pages from start to finish. Excellent reading! I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary.
The treecats are back! Their uncertain status of sentient or animal threatens their future on Sphinx. Stephanie Harrington and the Tree Cat Conspiracy group expand their tactics to ensure their safety. David Weber and Jane Lindskold have delivered another well-written entry to the series. I was glued to the pages from start to finish. Excellent reading! I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary.
May 7, 2025
I confess I was disappointed n this book. But I had not read any of the other books in this series, and that probably would have made a big difference. Reading this as a standalone, it was very big on the political machinations involving the sentience of the treecats, and while there was also interaction between the humans and amongst the treecats, all the posturing and conflict and machinations to get the treecats protected just wasn't interesting to me.
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June 19, 2025Bummer. Woefully disappointing. I read the first 180 pages and was so frustrated. Same old, same old. Stupid, deceitful, selfish humans caring only about money. I finally decided to skip to the end, and was disappointed again when then on to the end, which was satisfactory. But I don't know if the humans will ever be able to mind talk to the treecats and I'm just done, I guess.
July 21, 2025
Proceeds as average as possible. Trudy's family issues come to a head as her brother gets violence, Stephanie's cousin just happens to be a famous xenobiologist who shows up, and the evil people do standard evil things while Treecat conversations are overlong. I keep reading just to see how the story goes, but there's nothing special.
It did make me reserve the first Honor book and I'll start re-reading that series. The latter ones became dull, but I remember the early ones as fun.
It did make me reserve the first Honor book and I'll start re-reading that series. The latter ones became dull, but I remember the early ones as fun.
March 19, 2025
Are you ready?
If you've read any of the other four books in this series , Then you already know what to expect. So grip your book tightly and take a spellbinding adventure in to the home world of the tree cats!
I could not put this book down. Omg!!! The next ones going to be.. Out of this world.
If you've read any of the other four books in this series , Then you already know what to expect. So grip your book tightly and take a spellbinding adventure in to the home world of the tree cats!
I could not put this book down. Omg!!! The next ones going to be.. Out of this world.
April 27, 2025
There were parts of this book I really enjoyed, but I'm afraid I got a bit frustrated by the author's style, where they tell you something, then tell you again, then in the next chapter they tell you again. Unfortunately I’m also not that interested in the intricacies of teen romances.
If possible I would have given 2.5 stars.
If possible I would have given 2.5 stars.
October 17, 2025
Length can be a problem for a book and this has it.
The ecological message is still clear and sympathetic and the tie in to the rest of the Honorverse apart from the treecats themselves is deepened.
But this is a very long book compared to the first ones and doesn't tell a remarkably bigger story than them.
The ecological message is still clear and sympathetic and the tie in to the rest of the Honorverse apart from the treecats themselves is deepened.
But this is a very long book compared to the first ones and doesn't tell a remarkably bigger story than them.
March 10, 2025
Satisfying installment in the series. Wish the books were longer.
Stephanie and crew keep moving forward with the SFS to get rights and protections for the tree cats of Sphinx
A few new characters and deeper looks into older characters
Keep them coming
Stephanie and crew keep moving forward with the SFS to get rights and protections for the tree cats of Sphinx
A few new characters and deeper looks into older characters
Keep them coming
March 12, 2025
Great story
I have enjoyed this fun action pack adventure of treecats as they continue to prove they are more than an animal that they true intelligence even if they don't have a written or spoken language.
I have enjoyed this fun action pack adventure of treecats as they continue to prove they are more than an animal that they true intelligence even if they don't have a written or spoken language.
March 22, 2025
Great Series
A really great read! For those of us that have a vested interest in any story that explains Honor world. Even those of us who are "Young at Heart" will enjoy this series!
A really great read! For those of us that have a vested interest in any story that explains Honor world. Even those of us who are "Young at Heart" will enjoy this series!
October 13, 2025
An excellent read! Good character development in humans and a parallel development amongst the tree cats. An excellent contribution to the backstory of the human/tree cat relationship. Highly recommended read!
December 2, 2024
I read the e-ARC of this (the 5th) installment - and it's a really good story. But it is better, if you know the first 4 books in the series, too; else you get some heavy spoilers.
January 24, 2025
More treecats! Investigation into treecat clans intensifies as the argument over their sapience level heats up.
Fun series.
Fun series.
March 11, 2025
Smarter than the Average Bear!
Excellent story, well told. You will enjoy it very much! I’ll be growing celery this years, just in case they stop by!
Excellent story, well told. You will enjoy it very much! I’ll be growing celery this years, just in case they stop by!
March 13, 2025
great
As usual for Jane Lindskold, David Weber book this is an excellent story told with great characters and a interesting plot. My only complaint is it’s to short.
As usual for Jane Lindskold, David Weber book this is an excellent story told with great characters and a interesting plot. My only complaint is it’s to short.
March 15, 2025
wonderful
Addicted to tree cats. This is a great addition to the treecat history.
Characters are rounding out nicely and just the tight touch of evil in the wings
Addicted to tree cats. This is a great addition to the treecat history.
Characters are rounding out nicely and just the tight touch of evil in the wings
March 16, 2025
Always great reading
An excellent tale of two separate species dealing with inability to communicate with each other or understand the why of different traits. Highly recommend!!
An excellent tale of two separate species dealing with inability to communicate with each other or understand the why of different traits. Highly recommend!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews