Frontier Incursion is the first book in the Frontier series by Australian author, Leonie Rogers. At fifteen, Shanna was young to be a cadet. Training to be a Frontier Scout would be challenging: being away from her family was hard (she loved her parents, starcat breeders Janna and Adlan, and she was so proud of her younger brother, Kaidan’s archer abilities); and gaining the friendship and respect of the older cadets in her group was complicated by the fact that she had two starcats. But Shanna was determined to do her best.

When, during their routine post-storm damage survey, they came across evidence of a wrecked aircraft, her group was at once excited but nervous. After three hundred years on this rather hostile planet, did it mean rescue? Or something else? Her group knew their training would be tested to the limit when they accompanied the experienced Patrol Ten, leaving the relative safety of the Plateau for the hazardous wilderness of Below. Their bond with their starcats would be vital.

On the Garsal colony ship, Anjo, one of many human slaves, made surreptitious observations: he knew, though, that escape would not be easy. And if he ever succeeded, survival outside the laser perimeter fence, at the mercy of this planet’s dangerous plants and fierce predators would certainly be difficult, if not impossible. But to continue at the mercy of this cruel insectoid race was surely worse.

What a superb start to this speculative fiction trilogy! Rogers gives the reader a highly original plot, a resourceful and quietly determined young heroine, and an imaginative setting that contains that a wealth of interesting plants and animals. Rogers does her world building very subtly: there are no information dumps to distract from the story, which boasts an exciting climax (or two) and flows neatly into the next book, Frontier Resistance.

The starcats are, of course, the scene-stealers, having a combination of all the best feline attributes together with the strong loyalty that is usually more a canine feature. Rogers has feline behaviour well and truly nailed down: her descriptions of the starcats are very evocative, portraying the way cats behave, their little tics, quirks, and traits with consummate ease. Herding these cats might not present the usual challenge: amenable and co-operative describes starcats well. Even readers who don’t necessarily feel an affinity for cats are likely to want their own starcat.

It may be described as Young Adult, but older readers are bound to enjoy this book too, and fans will be pleased to know that Rogers has penned two further books to be enjoyed. A splendid read.