Part of Pern
First published 2006
Pellar cannot speak, but his tracking skills serve Masterharper Zist well. When Zist takes charge of Natalon's coal mining camp, he brings Pellar along on a covert investigation. Someone has been stealing coal, and Zist suspects the Shunned, outcasts who wander without homes or hope. Pellar discovers the truth runs deeper than simple theft. Tenim, a ruthless criminal, works with corrupt miner Tarik to steal firestone, the volatile mineral dragons need to burn Thread from Pern's skies. When the last firestone mine explodes, Pern faces catastrophe. Without firestone, dragons cannot protect the planet when Thread returns. Tenim sees opportunity in disaster and plots to control the firestone market through murder. Three unlikely allies stand against him: Pellar with his silent determination, Halla, a kind girl cast out with the Shunned through no fault of her own, and Cristov, who must redeem his father Tarik's betrayal. Together they race to find new firestone deposits before Tenim's schemes doom everyone on Pern.
Genres: drama, science-fiction-fantasy, adventure, fantasy, action, young-adult
Vibes: action-packed, dark, emotional, heroic, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, race-against-time, redemption-arc, unlikely-allies
Setting: Pern, coal mining camp, firestone mine
384 pages · Hardcover · Random House Inc
Content warnings: death, murder, violence