This is one of the few Norton novels I did not read originally as an youth. Then I would not have noticed the idea of slavery as it applies to pets and how we think of our furry friends. This is something that occurs often in Andre Norton's works. Lyn McConchie may have written the driving plot line but the subtle cat references are pure Norton. It was a joy to read a new Norton story and see the ideas unfold. ( )

This reread was not disappointing, though it did have a bit of 'this, then that' plotting in places though there was a nice feel of tension in places that kept the plot rolling along at a suitably rattling pace and there were a number of ethical considerations brought to the fore - mainly the old prime directive of how much an advanced civilisation should interfere in the affairs of less developed worlds.

Now Laris, and her companion Prauo, had found a place with Logan Quade and his family on Arzor, the group have finally had a chance to relax and think about the future, and that involves Prauo in particular as he wonders what his past was and what the future will bring. Bruce Quad, Logan's father, also wants to know more about Laris, for it's clear that Logan's as infatuated with her as she is with him. After a massive search through the paper trails of the refugee camps that resulted from the burn off of several worlds he found that simple Laris, simple bond-servant, was the sole remaining heir of the Trehallan clan and is the owner of a starship. So the search is on. The beast master teams of Storm and his wife Tani, along with Logan, embark on the search with her and Prauo. When they find Prauo's home world, they find it's on the way up from a worldwide planetary war that had mutated all the inhabitants to such a degree that the two major species had bonded but this bond was growing weaker as the effects of the war died away, splitting the local society as divisions grew over how to deal with the situation. Logan and Laris find their relationship strained as well, so will True Love win out?! ( )

A good, solid book. Obviously YA, but enjoyable. ( )

Slight spoiler - as if you couldn't tell by the middle of the last book!

This was the first time I'd read Quest, and I don't like it as well as the previous ones in this series - there are some major deep emotional events that feel like they're rather skimmed over, and some very minor events that get featured. And maybe it's because Prauo is still physically immature - but even when Laris decides she'll marry Logan, none of them think about Prauo mating. It would have been interesting to consider, especially since they've discovered the radiation is important to the link...Well, I hope they (just Lyn, now, of course) don't decide to stretch this series out until there's nothing left of it. ( )