Nine Lives

Nine Lives is an intense adventure in discovering a new planet, while struggling with differences and conflict among the characters. We follow Laren and Darma and other teens as they work to build a society and tame a hostile land.

The mostly young people composing the two camps of newly arrived migrants maintain a shaky alliance as they learn about the land, creatures, and intelligent beings on this planet where they are stuck. The story combines supernatural powers, science, and social relations into an unusual blend. It's fascinating to experience the lives of these youngsters as they confront each new challenge.

Each day brings danger. There are diseases to confront, alien species to fight or make peace with, and the difficulties of getting along with fellow settlers. The landing party is composed of a mixed group that has difficulty working together. The individuals sometimes see themselves as separated by a division into three groups. The normal humans, bete with powers, and Prime, who have powers and can transform into animal shapes.

A major problem for the individuals we follow is the tension between the groups. Some people are so hostile to differences that they are willing to resort to violence. Laren and Darma change and grow to confront the dangers they face. As they both must rise to assume more responsibility and power, they find themselves with the added complexity of starting a relationship with each other.

I enjoyed this story. Even with supernatural powers, and an alien planet, I found the story believable. Because the characters had problems with consequences, I felt for them. When people act, they run into problems and unexpected surprises occur regularly. It was a pleasure to read a story where reality interferes at every turn. I think this story would be suitable for middle grades on up. I also appreciated the mature way some issues were handled. There are experiences with sex, scientific method, and political decisions that characters must find answers to. I read this book without reading the first book in the series. I did not have any problems following the story. I would say a reader might find it helpful to understand there are three separated types of people who shared the one ship, before crash landing on the planet. If you are interested in a fun teen fantasy with a touch of science, give this book a try. I think you'll enjoy it.