Fire Season

Star Kingdom, Book 2

By: Jane Lindskold, David Weber

Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Here is the second entry in a new young-adult series by New York Times best seller David Weber and the prequel to the hugely popular Honor Harrington adult science-fiction saga.

Fire in the forest – and a cry for help from a trapped and desperate alien mother! Unfortunately, this is one cry no human can hear. Stephanie Harrington, precocious 14-year-old Provisional Forest Ranger on the planet Sphinx, knows something is wrong from the uneasy emotion that is flooding into her from her treecat friend, Climbs Quickly. But though Stephanie’s alien comrade shares a tight bond with his two-legs, whom he knows as Death Fang’s Bane, he cannot communicate directly to her the anguished call from one of his people. Still, their strong and direct bond of feeling may be enough. Stephanie and fellow ranger Karl Zivonik respond to Climbs Quickly’s rising waves of distress.

Fire season on the pioneer world of Sphinx has begun. But there are those who want to use the natural cycle of the planet for personal gain – and to get rid of the one obstacle that stands in the way of acquiring even greater land and power on Spinx: the native treecats.

Now it's up to Stephanie and Climbs Quickly, along with their friends, family, and allies, to prevent disaster and injustice from befalling a treecat clan. But in the process, Stephanie must be certain to preserve the greatest secret all. It is the knowledge that the treecats of Sphinx are not merely pets or servants, but are highly intelligent in their own right – that they are a species fully deserving of rights, respect, and freedom. And keeping the secret that will allow the treecats time to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with humankind all begins with the friendship of a girl and her treecat.

©2012 Words of Weber, Inc. & Obsidian Tiger, Inc. (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

More treecats!!

The second book in this new YA series, Fire Kingdom is an enjoyable story. I like David Weber's Honorverse, but don't like listening to most of them. Too many meetings to explain strategy and too much description of military technology. This series has the human interest that I enjoy in DW's books, and I don't have to skip over page after page of uninteresting detail. A fun story, with lots more information about treecats, the most interesting characters in DW's books!

Tree cats, scientist and fire season

This is a book for young people and provides background information on the first person in the Harrington family to be adopted by a tree cat. The book provides information on fire fighting and control that is of general interest and also provides information on environmental problems and conservation of both plants and animals. As Stephanie Harrington is turning 15 she is trying to get her driver's license (of course, this is a flying car) and dealing with the issues of being a very smart teenager. Like many current books it also deals with the problem of bullying. It covers these topic in a interesting and suspenseful story with the rescue of a tree cat clan and people from a fire. Makes for a pleasant and interesting reading. Khristine Hvam does a great job reading the book.

Another great story from the Honorverse,

written with likeable chatacters whose humanity shines more brightly for the alien setting. Thanks to David Weber for sharing this vision with his readers and letting it grow beyond him

Awesome

I love these prequels to the Honor Harrington series, especially how the treecats are discovered! BLEEK, BLEEK!😉

"Come Lassie! Timmy's in the well-again" Y/A plot

Sorry-I couldn't help it..it's what these novels bring to mind..Several incidents of "Timmy's in the well" problems, with Climbs Quickly,the Tree-C,at leading Stephanie, the obtuse and mind blind human to do something important. It gets a little humorous and maybe a bit tiresome for the adult reader but for the target audience it's perfect..after all, Lassie was directed towards kids wasn't it?

This second in a trilogy brings us to a now 15 year old Stephanie who is still unable to communicate with 'her' tree car, Climbs Quickly/Lionheart and who is feeling the first stirrings of female affection towards a newcomer to Sphinx.

As you might gather from the title, it's Fire Season on the planet and a team of Xeno-investigators who have come to determine if the tree cats are actually sentient do dumb human things and get caught in the path of a fire.

Riding to the rescue, Stephanie and Climbs Quickly (aka Death Fang's Bane & Lionheart) stop to rescue some more tree cats in route to mapping the fire wherein Stephanies new object of affection is about to be trapped.

For the target audience (I bought it for my 8 year old grand daughter) it's a great listen. She's listening to the first book now and loves it..is excited that there are more for her to look forward to.

Again a couple of parts where a tender hearted child might become afraid for the tree cat in danger but nothing as gory as the hexa-puma attack in the first book.

Kristine Hvan is an excellent narrator-I love her work. The story moves along quickly and Hvan gives voices to the tree cats with feeling and brings them to life.

Great for pre teens/young teens, interesting for adults who like to know what their youngsters are going to hear.

Recommended for the audience intended.

liked the first one better.

Slowed down towards the middle but picked back up. Moved the main story along. Stephanie discovers boys.

The Treecat Saga Continues

In the vane of excellent stories about well developed, strong female main characters, Fire Season continues the adventure of Stephanie and Lionheart. If you enjoyed Hunger Games, I expect you will enjoy this series. If your a Honorverse fan it does gives nice insight into Treecats.

Excellent for youth and adult!

This is a super series, well-written as all his books are, but this is better paced in a lot of ways and steers clear of some of the darker themes that distract me from the Honor Harrington series. In any case, I spend a lot less time worrying that he'll kill off secondary characters that I like.

Of course, given the target audience, there's less depth and complexity to the story, but it's a fun ride and an easy listen. I recommend!

Another hit

I really enjoyed this audio book as much as I enjoyed reading the book. It was performed well and I will definitely be listening to the next installment.

luv these

I started with the honor series and now have added these David Weber does not disappoint