Tigra

R. J. Leahy
Zumaya Otherworlds (2006)
ISBN 1934135216
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (3/07)

When Captain Jeena Garza‘s ship crashes, the Coalition forces take her captive.  For sixteen months she is tortured, starved and raped repeatedly.  Then a Union raid gave her the opportunity to escape in a smuggler’s ship.  The ship crash lands on the surface of Ararat, second planet in the Arcturus System.          

Jenna kills a Tigra; a cat similar to Earth’s tigers except the Tigra has no stripes and is a beautiful golden color.  The Tigra’s cub comes to Jeena’s campsite after she kills its mother.  She can’t bring herself to kill it.  She nurtures it, names it Samson and teaches it to talk.  The animal shows much intelligence and even learns to read.  As Samson matures the relationship goes from teacher/student to equals.  She knew she should let him go “The months turned into more months, and still the cub showed no sign of wanting to leave.”

Two groups from Earth colonized the planet - the Afridi and the Babylonians.  The Afridi leaders are determined to kill all Tigra declaring them to be evil.  They also intend to kill all other people on the planet.  TheAfridi capture Jeena and place her in a prison.  Just as they are preparing to kill Samson, she escapes and rescues him.  The two head for the mountains and search for Mordecai, the leader of Pyros.  The air is thin and Jeena becomes very ill.  A race that believes Samson to be a god nurses her back to health and guides them to Mordecai.  

Jeena must fight another war if she is to save an ancient people.  Could Jeena and Samson be an answer to prophecy?

“Tigra” by R. J. Leahy is science fiction at it’s finest.  The plot is fascinating and has twists and turns that lead the reader on a roller coaster ride.  The characters are well defined.  Who wouldn’t love Samson - big, sensitive, loving and intelligent?  Jeena’s personality has depth.  She’s strong and protective and yet badly scarred from her experiences.   There is a message in this plot for each of us, a message of tolerance and acceptance.  I highly recommend this book to fans of science fiction.

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