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Acorna #9
Second Wave: Acorna's Children
It is difficult growing up in the shadow of heroes revered throughout the galaxy. But that is the lot of young Khorii—daughter of the legendary Acorna and her lifemate, Aari—who must now follow her own destiny through a fantastic universe of wonders and perils. Khorii became a hero in her own right as she fought to save the universe from a mysterious, deadly plague that not even the healing powers of the Linyaari could stop. Now, confined with the rest of the survivors on Paloduro, the home planet of the disease, it seems as if the danger may be fading, and Khorii and her friends may be able to stem the tide of death and disease . . . until ominous signs indicate that the perpetrators are near and that the epidemic is only beginning. As old enemies reemerge and a shocking family secret is revealed, Khorii must unlock the malevolent mysteries of the deadly pestilence with the aid of her android "brother" before their unknown foes complete their covert mission to cripple the entire star system.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2006
53 people are currently reading
1574 people want to read
About the author
Anne McCaffrey
478 books7,755 followersAnne Inez McCaffrey was an American writer known for the Dragonriders of Pern science fiction series. She was the first woman to win a Hugo Award for fiction (Best Novella, Weyr Search, 1968) and the first to win a Nebula Award (Best Novella, Dragonrider, 1969). Her 1978 novel The White Dragon became one of the first science-fiction books to appear on the New York Times Best Seller list.
In 2005 the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named McCaffrey its 22nd Grand Master, an annual award to living writers of fantasy and science fiction. She was inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame on 17 June 2006. She also received the Robert A. Heinlein Award for her work in 2007.
In 2005 the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named McCaffrey its 22nd Grand Master, an annual award to living writers of fantasy and science fiction. She was inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame on 17 June 2006. She also received the Robert A. Heinlein Award for her work in 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 28, 2021
Simply not as good as the original series. Fans of the earlier Acorna novels should check out some of Anne McCaffrey's other works instead of bothering with this mess.
EDIT: Despite a negative experience with this book previously, I felt that I should complete the series, as I always like to know the entire story...and, found it to be just as shoddy as I did the last time.
EDIT: Despite a negative experience with this book previously, I felt that I should complete the series, as I always like to know the entire story...and, found it to be just as shoddy as I did the last time.
February 10, 2017
This series just doesn't have the charm that the original Acorna series had. I don't know if it's because we're not discovering as many different worlds and cultures or if it's due to having Khorii as a main character, but there's definitely something missing. However, for fans of the series, this is still enjoyable and worthwhile. It's a fast read and this one does a better job of tying into the latter part of the original series than First Warning did.
This book is a good set-up for what's to come. I think the last book of the series is going to be extremely exciting. Not only is the plague transforming into an unknown entity that even Khorii doesn't seem able to fight, old enemies are coming back (as the summary says).
Khorii is a bit whiny for my taste, but she does what she needs to do. She has some awesome moments in this book, one with a shady trader, and some others with futuristic pirates. Sometimes I really miss the presence of Acorna's adoptive fathers. Instead, Khorii hangs out with kids whose parents were the victims of the plague. It fits into the story line, but I don't think there are any really strong characters in this series, which bothers me a bit.
What I like about this book is that Khorii seems to be coming into her own. Without the help of her parents, she's maturing and learning how to manage by herself. Also, the entire book is suspenseful. You know something really bad is going on, but all the characters seem to pass it off as something odd but not incredibly important. In the end, the begin to figure it out. This is at once frustrating and necessary, because it most definitely kept me turning the pages.
I would recommend this for those who have already read the original Acorna series. If you're just now getting into this series, don't start with Acorna's Children. It's not as good and you won't catch the references made to the previous series.
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
This book is a good set-up for what's to come. I think the last book of the series is going to be extremely exciting. Not only is the plague transforming into an unknown entity that even Khorii doesn't seem able to fight, old enemies are coming back (as the summary says).
Khorii is a bit whiny for my taste, but she does what she needs to do. She has some awesome moments in this book, one with a shady trader, and some others with futuristic pirates. Sometimes I really miss the presence of Acorna's adoptive fathers. Instead, Khorii hangs out with kids whose parents were the victims of the plague. It fits into the story line, but I don't think there are any really strong characters in this series, which bothers me a bit.
What I like about this book is that Khorii seems to be coming into her own. Without the help of her parents, she's maturing and learning how to manage by herself. Also, the entire book is suspenseful. You know something really bad is going on, but all the characters seem to pass it off as something odd but not incredibly important. In the end, the begin to figure it out. This is at once frustrating and necessary, because it most definitely kept me turning the pages.
I would recommend this for those who have already read the original Acorna series. If you're just now getting into this series, don't start with Acorna's Children. It's not as good and you won't catch the references made to the previous series.
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
August 25, 2017
I'm so glad this book reminds us every second page that the kitten is actually one of the Friends. Otherwise I might forget that Kiindi is actually Grimalkin. Did you know that he's sometimes not a kitty? Because he's actually one of the friends? He is!
August 28, 2021
This second book of Acorna's Children finds Khorii still on the planet of Paloduro, as she, Elviiz, and their human friends, help to gather as many survivors together, and organise a more balanced approach to life after the plague.
With mostly children, and grandparents as survivors, Khorii finds herself spending much time curing the elderly of their age-related problems, so that they'll stay hale and hearty long enough to teach another generation all the things they'll need to survive.
Unfortunately, although the plague seems to be dying down, another problem seems to be taking it's place, as too many survivors are seeing what they believe to be the ghosts of their dead loved ones everywhere they had been buried.
But things start getting even stranger - and more deadly - when those same ghosts start to be able to actually affect the world around them, causing accidents, and fires, plus injuries, and even deaths because of this.
Then, to make life even more strange, as many of the Linyaari travel through space, going from planet to space station, to moon, to Federal relay stations, doing their best to clear up every pocket of plague they come across, while also connecting people through the relays they could get working again, a young Linyaari girl suddenly appears from out of the sea, on the original Linyaari planet, Vhiliinyar, and insists that she is Acorna and Aari's daughter.
She looks just like Khorii, but all Linyaari know that Khorii is off planet, doing her best to find a cure for the mutated form of plague that her parents still suffer with.
When they discover that this new girl is actually Khorii's twin sister, stolen from Acorna's womb by Grimalkin, before Acorna could even guess that she was bearing twins, they welcome her with open arms but, full of suspicion, because of the way she had been treated by Grimalkin's associates, Nahrii, as she was called by the Friends from the past, can't decide if these people so like her were genuine, or just like the Friends .
Acorna and Aari are so happy to see her, that they give her a new name, one much more suited to her, and so Ariinye becomes a true part of her family at last, choosing the shortened version of her name, Ariin, as her sister's name was shortened.
There is much that happens after this, with Marl Fidd joining with pirates in an attempt to grab wealth - and Khorii - as he wants to stay plague free while free booting, and the Linyaari and House Harakamian, doing all they can to rescue the LoiLoiKua from their dying world, plus both the landscape on land, and in space, changing very strangely, in ways that nobody could understand - until Khorii put things together!
The book ends - but the story keeps on going in the third book of this series: Third Watch: Acorna's Children, which I'll be starting to read once I get some sleep because, as usual, I have read through most of the night - again! Lol
With mostly children, and grandparents as survivors, Khorii finds herself spending much time curing the elderly of their age-related problems, so that they'll stay hale and hearty long enough to teach another generation all the things they'll need to survive.
Unfortunately, although the plague seems to be dying down, another problem seems to be taking it's place, as too many survivors are seeing what they believe to be the ghosts of their dead loved ones everywhere they had been buried.
But things start getting even stranger - and more deadly - when those same ghosts start to be able to actually affect the world around them, causing accidents, and fires, plus injuries, and even deaths because of this.
Then, to make life even more strange, as many of the Linyaari travel through space, going from planet to space station, to moon, to Federal relay stations, doing their best to clear up every pocket of plague they come across, while also connecting people through the relays they could get working again, a young Linyaari girl suddenly appears from out of the sea, on the original Linyaari planet, Vhiliinyar, and insists that she is Acorna and Aari's daughter.
She looks just like Khorii, but all Linyaari know that Khorii is off planet, doing her best to find a cure for the mutated form of plague that her parents still suffer with.
When they discover that this new girl is actually Khorii's twin sister, stolen from Acorna's womb by Grimalkin, before Acorna could even guess that she was bearing twins, they welcome her with open arms but, full of suspicion, because of the way she had been treated by Grimalkin's associates, Nahrii, as she was called by the Friends from the past, can't decide if these people so like her were genuine, or just like the Friends .
Acorna and Aari are so happy to see her, that they give her a new name, one much more suited to her, and so Ariinye becomes a true part of her family at last, choosing the shortened version of her name, Ariin, as her sister's name was shortened.
There is much that happens after this, with Marl Fidd joining with pirates in an attempt to grab wealth - and Khorii - as he wants to stay plague free while free booting, and the Linyaari and House Harakamian, doing all they can to rescue the LoiLoiKua from their dying world, plus both the landscape on land, and in space, changing very strangely, in ways that nobody could understand - until Khorii put things together!
The book ends - but the story keeps on going in the third book of this series: Third Watch: Acorna's Children, which I'll be starting to read once I get some sleep because, as usual, I have read through most of the night - again! Lol
May 25, 2017
The plague is over, or the contamination is fading "on its own". However, people are being attacked by invisible forces that can go through walls and influence inanimate objects. This is on all planets, not just one.
Acorna and Aari are still quarantined along with Maak, Captain Becker and RK.
Karina has a prediction that comes true....... she predicts that their daughter will be home within the week - but it's not Khorii! It is the twin that Grimaulkin took before anyone knew about her.
She is given a new name: Ariin. She has lived with the Friends, who treated her more like a lab experiment than a person. She gains her telepathic powers and learns about her history, and a way out (the timer that Grimaulkin was forced to give up). She arrives and is reunited with Khorii and the others. Elviiz was damaged when the invisibles pushed a wall upon him. Khiindi seems able to see the invisibles, and is either fearful of them or attacks them. Ariin has plans to get back at Grimaulkin now Khiindi...... so he avoids her if possible.
Based on her observations, Khorii has a hypothesis: the invisibles are larger forms of the germs that spread the plague. They also assimilate inanimate objects and take the forms of the deceased. While the plague is gone, the invisibles are the second stage.....
Khorii hopes to reunite with her parents, Ariin as well has that hope. But though Maak, Captain Becker and RK are plague free, the Linyaari parents are still infested with the plague. Ariin confides to Khorii that she still has the chrono, and they plan to use it to cure their parents and stop the disease.... if possible.
Acorna and Aari are still quarantined along with Maak, Captain Becker and RK.
Karina has a prediction that comes true....... she predicts that their daughter will be home within the week - but it's not Khorii! It is the twin that Grimaulkin took before anyone knew about her.
She is given a new name: Ariin. She has lived with the Friends, who treated her more like a lab experiment than a person. She gains her telepathic powers and learns about her history, and a way out (the timer that Grimaulkin was forced to give up). She arrives and is reunited with Khorii and the others. Elviiz was damaged when the invisibles pushed a wall upon him. Khiindi seems able to see the invisibles, and is either fearful of them or attacks them. Ariin has plans to get back at Grimaulkin now Khiindi...... so he avoids her if possible.
Based on her observations, Khorii has a hypothesis: the invisibles are larger forms of the germs that spread the plague. They also assimilate inanimate objects and take the forms of the deceased. While the plague is gone, the invisibles are the second stage.....
Khorii hopes to reunite with her parents, Ariin as well has that hope. But though Maak, Captain Becker and RK are plague free, the Linyaari parents are still infested with the plague. Ariin confides to Khorii that she still has the chrono, and they plan to use it to cure their parents and stop the disease.... if possible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2021
I was really into it at first - a creepy new development in the plague, the long lost sister, mentions of a sea monster... All great stuff, but I should've known not to get my hopes up.
My first issue was Marl Fidd. He's incredibly uninteresting and serves absolutely no purpose. He's an unsatisfying villain because he's supposed to be some genius but he comes across as a childish idiot. His story definitely didn't need to continue into this book since he could've easily stayed where he'd been left in the last one - and instead of again letting him slip away forgotten I'm sure he'll reappear in the next book as well. There are so many more interesting things happening in this story and we have to waste time on his nonsense.
The plague hardly makes sense anymore, but it's creepy so I still like it. The sister, however... the jury is still out. She's also freaking creepy but not necessarily in a good way. She gives me bad vibes and it bugs the crap out of me that NONE OF THESE OTHER TELEPATHIC CREATURES can sense her bad vibes. At one point Khorii even HEARS HER influencing a character's mind and then it's never mentioned again. So either Ariin will become a fascinating villain or will just be infuriating, I can't imagine any other outcome.
My first issue was Marl Fidd. He's incredibly uninteresting and serves absolutely no purpose. He's an unsatisfying villain because he's supposed to be some genius but he comes across as a childish idiot. His story definitely didn't need to continue into this book since he could've easily stayed where he'd been left in the last one - and instead of again letting him slip away forgotten I'm sure he'll reappear in the next book as well. There are so many more interesting things happening in this story and we have to waste time on his nonsense.
The plague hardly makes sense anymore, but it's creepy so I still like it. The sister, however... the jury is still out. She's also freaking creepy but not necessarily in a good way. She gives me bad vibes and it bugs the crap out of me that NONE OF THESE OTHER TELEPATHIC CREATURES can sense her bad vibes. At one point Khorii even HEARS HER influencing a character's mind and then it's never mentioned again. So either Ariin will become a fascinating villain or will just be infuriating, I can't imagine any other outcome.
November 3, 2023
With reluctance, I am rating this one only three stars. Sadly, it was because it was whispersynched with a child's voice that didn't modulate between characters. And here I had been longing to have the Acorna books audio.
This story was fun in this time-traveling, interplanetary plague-ridden space opera. The robots and healing horns of Acorna's children made this maybe the most flexible story of the series. Yet the voice ruined it for me. I wish I could find out who did it, but it doesn't appear anywhere.
Anyway, I still am enjoying the series. I seem to always love Anne McCaffrey's books and I still have quite a few to get through.
I hope you like this more than I did. Maybe I'll reread the series and try to just use the text-to-speech.
This story was fun in this time-traveling, interplanetary plague-ridden space opera. The robots and healing horns of Acorna's children made this maybe the most flexible story of the series. Yet the voice ruined it for me. I wish I could find out who did it, but it doesn't appear anywhere.
Anyway, I still am enjoying the series. I seem to always love Anne McCaffrey's books and I still have quite a few to get through.
I hope you like this more than I did. Maybe I'll reread the series and try to just use the text-to-speech.
February 13, 2021
Second Wave
Khorii and Ariin are finally together after being apart since just being eggs in their mothers stomach. Torn apart to live separate lives until Ariin figured out how to find her twin and reunite with her, she learned how to get her way and to hide what she was feeling. Ariin knew she needed to learn to be like her family but she also knew she needed to keep part of herself to herself and Khorii tried to help everyone as much as she could until it came to her parents when she realized that there was no help for them. Now what are they going to do? How can they help their parents?
Khorii and Ariin are finally together after being apart since just being eggs in their mothers stomach. Torn apart to live separate lives until Ariin figured out how to find her twin and reunite with her, she learned how to get her way and to hide what she was feeling. Ariin knew she needed to learn to be like her family but she also knew she needed to keep part of herself to herself and Khorii tried to help everyone as much as she could until it came to her parents when she realized that there was no help for them. Now what are they going to do? How can they help their parents?
August 28, 2025
"The entire universe needs you."
While I think I still like the original series better, there was a cool twist here with an unknown sibling that I wasn't expecting.
While I think I still like the original series better, there was a cool twist here with an unknown sibling that I wasn't expecting.
March 2, 2023
This is by far the worst book I've read of Anne McCaffrey's. It was still decent but there were contradictions to each other within a page, there were inaccuracies from the prior book to this one... It feels like the editor fell asleep on the job with this one.
The story is decent, I'm not upset I read it by any means but it doesn't feel like Anne McCaffrey caliber.
The story is decent, I'm not upset I read it by any means but it doesn't feel like Anne McCaffrey caliber.
November 4, 2009
The series is coming to an end and I'm not sorry. The writing is becoming. . .desperate.
As a long time fan of both Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon, I was sad at this discovery. Even though this is a young adult series, I was expecting writing of the caliber of either the "Damia" or the first section of "Tower and the Hive" series. This is not what is being delivered, and young adults will suffer for it.
As a long time fan of both Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon, I was sad at this discovery. Even though this is a young adult series, I was expecting writing of the caliber of either the "Damia" or the first section of "Tower and the Hive" series. This is not what is being delivered, and young adults will suffer for it.
October 25, 2009
Something had been niggling at me during the previous book (first warning), but I brushed it off. I realized what it was during this second novel. The writing feels off. Maybe it's because we're dealing with essentially child/preteen protanganist for the most part, but I felt like the novel was written worse than Anne's normal works. I felt like I was reading something far below even the young adult line.
November 6, 2015
Didn't realize this was a "young adult" novel, but even so, it left me flat. Kindii the cat, doesn't speak to anyone except the audience, and that so seldom I'm not sure it happened, and the other cats aren't able to communicate. Why did it take ALL of the book before anyone realized the plague had corrupted into another form? I was hoping for someone interesting out of Marl, but he was apprehended. Korii / Sisseli does grow, just a teeny bit, but mostly this story just didn't.
March 1, 2015
Second Wave: Acorna's Children (Acorna, #9)
McCaffrey, Anne
how the children of acorna and ari
attempt to find a connection between events in their life and save their world and the universe in the same time.
how the children prepare for facing an invading force
how acorna's children over come their crisis
McCaffrey, Anne
how the children of acorna and ari
attempt to find a connection between events in their life and save their world and the universe in the same time.
how the children prepare for facing an invading force
how acorna's children over come their crisis
July 11, 2015
And the plague goes on. This book has some interesting twists.
I found this book too full of convoluted twists and turns. I just want the plague to be over and for Acorna and Arii to get to know their new daughter. I also thought too many new characters were added into the storyline. And now a new developing group of aliens???
I found this book too full of convoluted twists and turns. I just want the plague to be over and for Acorna and Arii to get to know their new daughter. I also thought too many new characters were added into the storyline. And now a new developing group of aliens???
January 8, 2011
This is kind of like STNG for me. Except I liked Data. I don't like Khorii's robot brother too much. At times I like him. Other times I just roll my eyes and want him to go away. I'm not sure I liked this story as much. It was just okay for me.
February 15, 2012
these books were very disappointing. at first i thought it was juvenile science fiction, but then part way through there are sex workers and spirits and violent gore...stopped 1/2 way through it and through one of the other acorna books.
January 27, 2021
The young people and elders who have escaped the plague are facing new scary problems. Khornii has a lot to do with her friends and family to help them, and meets a family member she knew nothing about
January 19, 2008
Great new twist, good plot development. Luckily I read this when I already had the third book - would have been hard to wait!
January 11, 2010
This series is starting to wear thin as it covers Acorna's descendants.
April 24, 2011
Fast-paced and action-packed! It picks up nicely where the previous novels left off.
June 22, 2012
guilty pleasure. not much substance, but a quick and enjoyable read.
Read
July 24, 2014I cried when ariinye was reunited with her family. I am wondering what she's planning on doing for her punishment for grimalkin.
September 15, 2016
Elizabeth Scarborough has good twists and ideas. Not as engrossing as Anne's own books, but still an entertaining read.
Read
September 24, 2016This one wasn't too bad, it was actually the next one that I had difficulties with, I have still yet to finish reading this continuation of the series.
Read
November 14, 2016slow, slow, slow...
September 28, 2017
I'm having a hard time liking Ariin - she's so shifty and conniving, even though I understand why - but what an exciting penultimate book this was! Can't wait to read the last one!
September 8, 2009
Great plot development, but very much written in universe.
September 10, 2016
Read October 2007
Read September 2006
Read September 2006
November 6, 2013
Overall I loved this series more than the original Acorna series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews