Customer Reviews

The Fireborn Chronicles

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Fireborn Chronicles is this author's first book, but for a first book it is a highly interesting and entertaining work of scifi. Rael Pointe is the leader of a small special ops team that works for the Universal Government (an intergalactic United Nations). Pointe is called to investigate an assault on a prominent ambassador, and he and his team soon find themselves targeted by the mysterious assailant.

The reader is treated to a clever mystery with lots of fun characers. Pointe is a cyborg with the ability to access any computer system. His teammates are Ira, a telepath, and Laynald an assassin/master physician. The book starts a little slow, but by the third chapter you will find yourself enthralled by Andrews's well crafted characters and intricate universe of worlds. The only other problem with the book is that sometimes the reader wishes Andrews would indulge in greater descriptive detail for the setting; however, readers will be glued to the book as they approach the ending which is surprising yet fitting. Great book for fans of Star Trek, Starcraft, firefly, etc.

The Fireborn Chronicles is a psionic/space-faring epic. The focus of the chronicles is Rael--an adoptee/refugee from The Hive with implants that allow him to access any data terminal with a thought. He's groomed by his foster-mother for Dark Ops government work, given his own ship and told to assemble a team of his choosing.

The first several sections of the book are essentially short stories jumping from place to place as we're introduced to the team that he assembles. The plot picks up when the team is together-at-last and has to track down what happened to a high-ranking ambassador. In the end, the fate of the known universe hangs in the balance.

Mary Andrews sets a grand stage with many inventive ideas--but as a whole this novel does not tell the story it sets out to as well as I would have liked. It was an easy read, slipping into cliche only now and then, though each section repeated details as if I'd not been privy to them before, jerking me out of the narrative repeatedly. And while a very complex universe is hinted at, its rendering was sparse and, I felt, the hinting overreached its presentation:

PSI of a certain sort are universally recognized, but are only allowed to live in one section of one planet; aliens of all sorts exist somewhere (accomodations have been made for them on a pleasure planet; and we meet one non-humanoid in the form of a station master), but for brief mention they have nothing to do with this story that "will change the universe".

I know the story is not meant to be taken too seriously, but still I wanted things to hang together a bit more. We jump from character introduction to character introduction as a team is gathered (losing one along the way, not to be mentioned again until half-way through the book, and then only off-handedly explained), with large gaps in character development.

And while the plot kept me increasingly curious, what wrapped it up was, for me, ultimately unsatisfying--a deus ex machina that is relatively unexplained and unexplored. The book largely read as a few snippets plus a larger novella whose main purpose was jumping off into another, as of yet untold, story.

All that said, I'm sure there's many a reader that will enjoy this book. It's a "psionic sci fi" romp with tinges of Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat and tinges of Babylon 5, where everything works out in the end.

I liked the different characters in the book. I am a big fan of sci-fi and was really excited to get this book. The characters are what really held it together for me. I would recommend this book who enjoys sci-fi. It's a great quick read.

Science fiction fans, if you're looking for a book to take you into another world, then you must read "The Fireborn Chronicles: Fireborn Found" by Mary Andrews.

The Universal Government seems to have all the answers. It allows each planet to decide who its undesirables are and these people are transferred and employed on the Hive Planet. To keep these workers in line, they are provided with an addictive drug that can only be earned by working, thus making these undesirables into the ultimate interplanetary temp service.

Rael Pointe--a newborn implanted with compu-link interface temple plates--had escaped the Hive Planet and was never introduced to the drug. Now, he leads a Dark Ops unit for The Gov and is on a mission to uncover a psionic ring of criminals who have taken control of an important Government Ambassador.

As time goes on, Rael finds out that nothing is as it seems and he and his friends are drawn into a circle of lies and revenge that leads all the way back to Rael's escape from the Hive Planet.

I have to admit that I have never been a huge fan of science fiction novels. I enjoy many of the Star Trek series and movies, Battlestar Galactica, and Buck Rogers in the 25th century, but to sit down and read a book about this stuff doesn't often cross my mind. So, I had a few reservations when the author asked me to review this novel, especially when she told me it was psionic sci-fi. I was like psionic what? But I like to expand my horizons as a writer and a reader, so I agreed.

Now, I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.

Mary Andrews is a master storyteller who weaves science fiction elements, well drawn characters, and an outstanding plot into an exciting and suspense-filled story that will completely draw the reader into Rael's world. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, the plot thickened, and new twists and turns led me to new conclusions. And the ending...an unexpected and amazing way to conclude the first book in this series and set up Book II, which is due to be released by Swimming Kangaroo Books in September 2008.

I did something I don't usually do and went to Andrews' website and checked out some of the other reviews posted there. Many reviewers discussed the introduction of the main characters in this novel--which we get in the first three parts--as short stories that helped to develop the characters. The opinions were mixed as if that was a good way to start off the novel. This format actually reminded a bit of "The Stand" by Stephen King, where the reader is introduced to several different characters and their lives before they all become acquainted with each other.

Overall, I felt this was an excellent way for the reader to get to know each character individually before they became part of the team. "The Fireborn Chronicles: Fireborn Found" has a tremendous amount happening within its 270 pages, so for someone like me who doesn't read a great deal of science fiction, this format served as a way for me to get a handle on who these people were and what attributes and skills they brought to the team. And for a regular science fiction reader, this format helps to set up the plot that really takes off in Part 4.

I also extend huge kudos to the cover artist. This is one of the most beautiful book covers I have ever seen. I couldn't believe how stunning the cover was when I received the book.

Mystery, suspense, and action fill the pages of "The Fireborn Chronicles: Fireborn Found". If Andrews' debut novel is this amazing, I can't wait to see what she delivers next!

What if everyone feared you?

Rael Pointe has powers that others fear, powers that even cause others pain. He has implants in his head that allow him to access computers. He was rescued from the Hive and raised by Marion Mahata, a woman with powerful political connections. Rael will soon have a purpose as he trains and eventually begins commanding his own team. But what will Rael learn as his team of rogues takes on this latest mission?

The early sections of THE FIREBORN CHRONICLES: FIREBORN FOUND read almost like separate short stories, which was initially a bit disconcerting. All of the sections eventually begin tying together as the story progresses. However, the first bit seemed somewhat disjointed as a little more character development and descriptions of the setting would have helped the early parts of the book. But once I got settled into this world, wow, what a journey!

Rael is one of the more intriguing characters I've ever read about. His ability to manipulate and access computers in this high tech world makes him a force to be reckoned with! The other characters add that needed touch of humanity to a man that otherwise might seem more machine than anything else.

Mary Andrews has quite a few surprises in store for the reader as this is one sci fi book chock full of twists and turns. Give THE FIREBORN CHRONICLES: FIREBORN FOUND time to develop as the story is certainly worth it once you see how all of the pieces fit together! This is definitely a pure science fiction book and I suspect that fans of shows such as Star Trek will enjoy this one.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

No one has ever escaped the Hive. No one, that is, except for Rael, whose mother hid him away with a note begging for him to be taken and protected from the euphoria-inducing drugs that entrap the slaves on his home planet. Fully implanted with compu-link temple plates, but not yet addicted to the drug, newborn Rael is rescued by Marion Mahata, head of the Central Command for the Universal Government. In this tiny child who never cries, Marion recognizes an amazing potential and raises her adopted son to become the most successful Dark Ops leader in the Universe.

Rael and his teammates, Ira (a Wall Master and telempath) and Laynald (combination healer and assassin), find themselves involved in the most dangerous rescue mission of their young careers when they are asked to find the villain who has captured the mind of a Universal Government Ambassador. Creating a rogue team with friends he discovers in unlikely circumstances, Rael and his colleagues unravel mysteries from planet to planet, only to discover that finding his true identity is the greatest mystery of all.

A collection of three short stories which introduces each of the main characters, The Fireborn Chronicles is the first in a series of young adult novels. Author Mary Andrews brings each character to life independently, and then seamlessly blends them into a team of characters that continue to build off of each other. As an avid Sci Fi reader, I eagerly await her next book in the series, Book II of the Fireborn Chronicles, which is due to be released in late 2008.

Mary Andrews was born in Salina, Kansas. Raised in a military family, she has lived in England, Hawaii, and now makes her home in Texas where she continues to write.

Armchair Interviews says: Super start to a young adult sci-fi series.

Where else could you love a character who excels in dual careers of physician and assassin--and sees no contradiction? Or when could a fate-bound, mind-controlling, blind slave girl who sees the world only through the eyes of others be the key to solving a mystery? How about a psychic psychologist who needs a little mind-soothing of his own, or a ship's-captain-on-a-mission who likes to mess with people by dimming the lights with his mind?

When a key ambassador is attacked by psychic man hunters, Captain Rael Pointe must track them down while confronting his own demons.

Andrews gives us a fast, fun, thought-provoking ride through an interesting universe populated with full-bodied characters. There are a couple of bumps along the way, but you'll be glad you hung on for the twist at the end. The Fireborn Chronicles will leave you hungry for more.