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Disambiguating; deleting and renaming wicks as appropriate. Moved to discussion
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* TheReptilians: The Valtegans, the Sumaan.
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trope is no on page examples
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* AliensMadeThemDoIt: Case in point, Kusac and Zayshul being manipulated by [[{{TheChessMaster}} The Chessmasters]]. Eventually this becomes more a case of KissingUnderTheInfluence since neither Kusac or Zayshul seems to be complaining about it anymore.
* AliensSpeakingEnglish: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] for some Sholans, as they've been taught English by way of a Telepathic transfer.
* AliensSpeakingEnglish: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] for some Sholans, as they've been taught English by way of a Telepathic transfer.
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* StayWithTheAliens: Carrie starts to do this in the first book but finishes by flying off to Shola in the second book. More characters join the Sholans later.
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The story is finished now
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The series currently consists of eight novels:
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The series currently consists of eight nine novels:
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Just For Fun/ pages are not tropes
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* AbusingTheKardashevScaleForFunAndProfit: Sholans (really, the Alliance as a whole) probably rank as a high Type I. The Valtegans are around the same level.
** The [[spoiler:Camarilla]] is at least a mid-level Class II; they have the capability of [[spoiler: not only opening instantaneous-travel portals through space, but ''time'' as well]]. While they do bemoan the energy expenditure required for this, they are further stated to be capable of [[spoiler: using this technology to transport their '''planet''' to another suitable star system, albeit by forcing its current sun to go supernova and harnessing the energy it produces in the process to fuel the transport.]]
** The [[spoiler:Camarilla]] is at least a mid-level Class II; they have the capability of [[spoiler: not only opening instantaneous-travel portals through space, but ''time'' as well]]. While they do bemoan the energy expenditure required for this, they are further stated to be capable of [[spoiler: using this technology to transport their '''planet''' to another suitable star system, albeit by forcing its current sun to go supernova and harnessing the energy it produces in the process to fuel the transport.]]
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* {{BFS}}: during Razor's Edge, Carrie and Kusac get a matched pair for their mission to Jalna.
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* {{BFS}}: during Razor's Edge, During ''Razor's Edge'', Carrie and Kusac get a matched pair for their mission to Jalna.
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* CallARabbitASmeerp[=/=]CallASmeerpARabbit: On Keiss, Kusac brings down a long legged animal that Guynor calls a ''rhakla''. Carrie calls it a deer. As a native of a distant colony planet, it is neither.
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* CallARabbitASmeerp[=/=]CallASmeerpARabbit: On Keiss, Kusac brings down a long legged long-legged animal that Guynor calls a ''rhakla''. Carrie calls it a deer. As a native of a distant colony planet, it is neither.
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...With a ninth book currently in the works, to be titled ''Circle's End''.
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* CryonicsFailure: Carrie's mother's cryo unit failed during the trip out from Earth. So dod about 1/3 of the other colonists' units.
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* CryonicsFailure: Carrie's mother's cryo unit failed during the trip out from Earth. So dod did about 1/3 of the other colonists' units.
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* EarnYourHappyEnding: The heroes in this series go through A LOT. Once in a while the author [[{{ThrowTheDogABone}} throws them a bone]], only to [[{{YankTheDogsChain}} snatch it away again]]. Hopefully by the end, they'll hit the KarmicJackpot.
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* EarnYourHappyEnding: The heroes in this series go through A LOT. Once in a while the author [[{{ThrowTheDogABone}} throws them a bone]], only to [[{{YankTheDogsChain}} snatch it away again]]. Hopefully by the end, they'll hit the KarmicJackpot.
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* KickTheDog: The Valtegans do this on page 1.
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* KickTheDog: The Valtegans do this on page 1.1 of the first book.
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* LukeIAmYourFather: Hooo boy.... Played with and pretty much [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig-Zagged]]. Mostly inverted.
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* LukeIAmYourFather: Hooo boy.... Played with and pretty much [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig-Zagged]]. Mostly inverted.
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** Kusac pulls this off in the first book.
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* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Jeggets. Carrie describes them as looking like a cross between a squirrel and a ferret. They can be troublesome. Mostly because they are [[{{Telepathy}}telepathic]] and can sense approaching threats.
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* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Jeggets. Carrie describes them as looking like a cross between a squirrel and a ferret. They can be troublesome. Mostly because they are [[{{Telepathy}} telepathic]] and can sense approaching threats.
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* RediculouslyCuteCritter: Jeggets. Carrie describes them as looking like a cross between a squirrel and a ferret. They can be troublesome. Mostly because they are [[{{Telepathy}}telepathic]] and can sense approaching threats.
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* RediculouslyCuteCritter: RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Jeggets. Carrie describes them as looking like a cross between a squirrel and a ferret. They can be troublesome. Mostly because they are [[{{Telepathy}}telepathic]] and can sense approaching threats.
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* RediculouslyCuteCritter: Jeggets. Carrie describes them as looking like a cross between a squirrel and a ferret. They can be troublesome. Mostly because they are [[{{Telepathy}}telepathic]] and can sense approaching threats.
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Is it really funny that insects eat other insects? Many Humans (a mammalian species) eat other mammals.
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** The Telaxaudin eat insects, which is funny because they themselves are described as being sort of like insects.
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** The Telaxaudin TeLaxaudin eat insects, which is funny because they themselves are described as being sort of like insects. insects.
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It seems that the book has been re-named.
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...With a ninth book currently in the works, to be titled ''Avatar''.
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...With a ninth book currently in the works, to be titled ''Avatar''.
''Circle's End''.
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* SpareAMessenger: The commander of the Khalossa tells his crew to allow one enemy ship to leave the Kiess system to inform their homeworld that this colony world is now under new management.
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* SubspaceAnsible: The Sholan Alliance has found one and put it to very good use.
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* SpiderSense: Some members of the Brotherhood of Vartra have this ability. Sister T'Chebbi is a good example.
* SubspaceAnsible: The Sholan Alliance has found one and put it to very good use. Interstellar conversations happen on a number of occasions.
* SubspaceAnsible: The Sholan Alliance has found one and put it to very good use. Interstellar conversations happen on a number of occasions.
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* TimeAndRelativeDimentionsInSpace: Three different types.
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* TimeAndRelativeDimentionsInSpace: TimeAndRelativeDimensionsInSpace: Three different types.
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* TimeAndRelativeDimentionsInSpace: Three different types.
** In "Fire Margins", when Carrie, Kusac and Kaid do their time travel thing, their destination winds up being a temple, many miles from where they started for a type 3.
** Much later, Vartra drags Kaid into the past and returns him to his bedroom in the present for a type 1.
** [[SufficientlyAdvancedAliens The Camarilla]] can apparently pull off a type 4, though the energy expenditure and other issues make this troublesome.
** In "Fire Margins", when Carrie, Kusac and Kaid do their time travel thing, their destination winds up being a temple, many miles from where they started for a type 3.
** Much later, Vartra drags Kaid into the past and returns him to his bedroom in the present for a type 1.
** [[SufficientlyAdvancedAliens The Camarilla]] can apparently pull off a type 4, though the energy expenditure and other issues make this troublesome.
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Removed \"this troper\"
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** [[spoiler: With his "repairs", Kusac is still a grade 1, but this troper feels that the existing scale may need to be adjusted or revised in order to accommodate his abilities vs those of everybody else.]]
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** [[spoiler: With his "repairs", Kusac is still a grade 1, but this troper feels that but the existing scale may need to be adjusted or revised in order to accommodate his abilities vs those of everybody else.]]
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* ICantBelieveItsNotHeroin/AlienCatnip: Both strong '''coffee''' and, apparently, small amounts of ordinary '''chocolate''' will do strange things to Sholans.
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* ICantBelieveItsNotHeroin/AlienCatnip: ICantBelieveItsNotHeroin / AlienCatnip: Both strong '''coffee''' and, apparently, small amounts of ordinary '''chocolate''' will do strange things to Sholans.
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* ICantBelieveItsNotHeroin: Both strong '''coffee''' and, apparently, small amounts of ordinary '''chocolate''' will do strange things to Sholans.
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* ICantBelieveItsNotHeroin: ICantBelieveItsNotHeroin/AlienCatnip: Both strong '''coffee''' and, apparently, small amounts of ordinary '''chocolate''' will do strange things to Sholans.
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* InterspeciesRomance: Kusac and Carrie Aldatan, among others.
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* InterspeciesRomance: Kusac and Carrie Aldatan, among others.Aldatan get this trope rolling. Others eventually follow.
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** In no particular order, they are the Litanies for Pain, Relaxation, Fear (inspired by the one from {{Dune}}), Clear Thought, and Preparation. They're never actually spelled out within the narrative, and in fact weren't more than named/mentioned until the seventh book in the series, where they were included on otherwise blank pages between chapters, spaced throughout the book.
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** In no particular order, they are the Litanies for Pain, Relaxation, Fear (inspired by the one from {{Dune}}), Franchise/{{Dune}}), Clear Thought, and Preparation. They're never actually spelled out within the narrative, and in fact weren't more than named/mentioned until the seventh book in the series, where they were included on otherwise blank pages between chapters, spaced throughout the book.
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* TooDumbToLive: The Valtegan Empire (InNameOnly) suffers from a coup; the new leader wishes to return his species to power and subjugate all the other "slave races". Unfortunately, those same slave races had just signed treaties with his predecessor (who's legitimate heir is off-world), and they're ''not happy''.
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* TooDumbToLive: The Valtegan Empire (InNameOnly) suffers from a coup; the new leader wishes to return his species to power and subjugate all the other "slave races". Unfortunately, those same slave races had just signed treaties with his predecessor (who's (whose legitimate heir is off-world), and they're ''not happy''.
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* FantasticArousal: Kusac finds himself on the wrong end of this while bathing in a hot spring.
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** The eighth book, Shades of Gray, does end ''fairly'' neatly. Buth there is still some hook.
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** The eighth book, Shades of Gray, does end ''fairly'' neatly. Buth But there is still some hook.hook.
* SpaceStation: There's a major orbiting station above Shola that plays a minor part in the series. There are also hollowed out asteroids orbiting distant stars that play vital plot roles in the later books.
* SpaceStation: There's a major orbiting station above Shola that plays a minor part in the series. There are also hollowed out asteroids orbiting distant stars that play vital plot roles in the later books.
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* {{Technopath}}: Thanks to having been TouchedByVorlons, Kusac develops this.
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* {{Technopath}}: Thanks to having been TouchedByVorlons, Kusac develops a little bit of this.
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Humanity has finally colonized a planet around a distant star. They soon discover that they are Not Alone in the universe. Then, things go downhill. Things get a little complicated from there when the Sholans, a race of intelligent, mostly bipedal felines with advanced technology show up on a rescue mission.
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Humanity has finally colonized a planet around a distant star. They soon discover that they are Not Alone in the universe. Then, things go downhill. Things get a little complicated from there when the Sholans, a race of intelligent, mostly bipedal felines [[CatFolk felines]] with advanced technology show up on a rescue mission.
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** [[spoiler: Vartra himself seems to have gotten a little of this. or maybe it's because he IS a God.]]
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** [[spoiler: Vartra himself seems to have gotten a little of this. or maybe it's because he IS a God.]] ]]
* TouchTelepathy: Sholans have a strict "No Contact" policy in place to protect their Telepaths. This is because physical contact creates an unblockable link between the telepath and anybody touching them.
* TouchTelepathy: Sholans have a strict "No Contact" policy in place to protect their Telepaths. This is because physical contact creates an unblockable link between the telepath and anybody touching them.
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* DataCrystals: Sholan computers make extensive use of removable data crystals. When the lead characters are preparing to return from their [[StableTimeLoop trip to the past]], One of the ancient locals points out the location where they've hidden an important data crystal that is later recovered in the present.
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* DataCrystals: DataCrystal: Sholan computers make extensive use of removable data crystals. When the lead characters are preparing to return from their [[StableTimeLoop trip to the past]], One of the ancient locals points out the location where they've hidden an important data crystal that is later recovered in the present.
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* DataCrystals: Sholan computers make extensive use of removable data crystals. When the lead characters are preparing to return from their [[StableTimeLoop trip to the past]], One of the ancient locals points out the location where they've hidden an important data crystal that is later recovered in the present.
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* HumansNeedAliens: The human colonists on Kiess found themselves under the heel of the overpoweringly aggressive etc etc Valtegans. Without the help of the Sholans, they would have continued to be in that situation even with the arrival of the second wave colony ship, still enroute during the first book.
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* AlternativeCalendar: Shola has more 26-hour days in its year that Earth.
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moved to namespace
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A Science fiction/romance series written by British-born author [[http://www.sff.net/people/lisanne/ Lisanne Norman]].
Humanity has finally colonized a planet around a distant star. They soon discover that they are Not Alone in the universe. Then, things go downhill. Things get a little complicated from there when the Sholans, a race of intelligent, mostly bipedal felines with advanced technology show up on a rescue mission.
The series currently consists of eight novels:
* ''Turning Point''
* ''Fortune's Wheel''
* ''Fire Margins''
* ''Razor's Edge''
* ''Dark Nadir''
* ''Stronghold Rising''
* ''Between Darkness and Light''
* ''Shades Of Gray''
...With a ninth book currently in the works, to be titled ''Avatar''.
----
!!This series contains examples of:
* AbusingTheKardashevScaleForFunAndProfit: Sholans (really, the Alliance as a whole) probably rank as a high Type I. The Valtegans are around the same level.
** The [[spoiler:Camarilla]] is at least a mid-level Class II; they have the capability of [[spoiler: not only opening instantaneous-travel portals through space, but ''time'' as well]]. While they do bemoan the energy expenditure required for this, they are further stated to be capable of [[spoiler: using this technology to transport their '''planet''' to another suitable star system, albeit by forcing its current sun to go supernova and harnessing the energy it produces in the process to fuel the transport.]]
* ActionMom: Carrie FTW.
* AerithAndBob: Where to start when you have over half a dozen species with featured parts in the later books.
** For a pair of aliens, Kusac and Vanna have very Bob names. While Garras and T'Chebbi are more Aerith.
** Ross Derwent seems like a very Aerith name for a human.
** Then we have the Valtegans, the Cabarrans and the Telaxaudin, whose names are ''very'' Aerith, which is to be expected.
* AIIsACrapshoot: Played straight with the Prime A I, Zshadi.
* AliensAreBastards: Played straight with the Valtegans and Chemerians.
** They even torture the main character's twin sister.
** Averted with ''most'' of the other species.
* AlienInvasion: Happens about a decade before the opening of the first book.
** Then more aliens arrive, resulting in a BenevolentAlienInvasion.
* AlienSky: Shola has two moons. One of them has a very large, recent crater.
* AliensMadeThemDoIt: Case in point, Kusac and Zayshul being manipulated by [[{{TheChessMaster}} The Chessmasters]]. Eventually this becomes more a case of KissingUnderTheInfluence since neither Kusac or Zayshul seems to be complaining about it anymore.
* AliensSpeakingEnglish: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] for some Sholans, as they've been taught English by way of a Telepathic transfer.
** Played straight with the vast majority of the dialog simply by applying the TranslationConvention.
** Oddly enough, it is mentioned at one point that the main female character is conversing with a fellow human in English after many months of only speaking Sholan.
* AlmightyJanitor: Sort of: K'hedduk starts off as a lowly '''steward''' then murders his way to the Imperial Throne.
* ApocalypseHow: The M'Zullians visit a Planetary Class 4 variant on 2 planets before the first book opens. Once more near the end of the sixth.
** Due to an accidental ColonyDrop, a Planet-wide overweight Class 1 / underachieving Class 2 version happens to Shola over 1500 years ago.
*** Sholans call it ''The Cataclysm''.
*** [[spoiler: Ancient Valtegan dreadnoughts must have been '''HUGE''' to gouge a big enough chunk out of one of Shola's moons to cause the kind of damage attributed to The Cataclysm.]]
* ArrangedMarriage: Kusac '''hates''' Rala. [[spoiler: Carrie gets rid of her. ''Permanently''.]]
** Another arranged marriage becomes an important plot point in the fifth book.
* AuthorAvatar: Carrie basically IS Ms. Norman in her younger days.
* AntiHero / AntiVillain: It's been brought up recently in the fan club discussion that General Kezule is all over this.
* AnyoneCanDie: Almost. But several major characters Have joined their ancestors.
* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: [[spoiler: Vartra]] gets this.
** Even if he was a mere mortal during [[spoiler: Fire Margins]].
*** That's sort of the point, though.
** You have to wonder if Kusac is headed this way, or heck, his entire Triad.
* AxCrazy: The M'Zullians get this way when they sense that they are in the presence of Sholans.
** They make suicide attacks or even go catatonic when they find this happening
* BadAssLongRobe: Mainly Kaid, but can apply to any of the Brothers or Sisters.
** Especially potent example occurs in Fire Margins when Kaid [[UpToEleven really]] [[LetsGetDangerous gets dangerous]] by [[TheCoatsAreOff removing the robe]] to fight Ghezu.
* BerserkButton: Do NOT attempt to harm Carrie. You will NOT survive the wrath of Kusac.
* {{BFS}}: during Razor's Edge, Carrie and Kusac get a matched pair for their mission to Jalna.
* BizarreAlienBiology: Both averted and played straight. [[spoiler: There's a reason for the aversion...]] [[spoiler: Carrie and Kusac have children.]]
** Played straight with some of the Valtegans, as they have some strange stuff going on.
* BloodBrothers: Any set of Sword-brothers falls into this trope. Sometimes they are more like HeterosexualLifePartners and sometimes they are actual lovers. This can sometimes result in DidTheyOrDidntThey.
** Kusac and Kaid.
** Banner and Jurrell.
* BreakTheCutie: The Valtegans do this to everyone they get anywhere near.
** Carrie gets this,
** Even Vanna gets a little of this.
* ButICantBePregnant: Pretty much every mixed Leska pair and/or gene-altered telepath or Brother/Sister experiences this at least once.
** [[spoiler: Inverted for Mara for... unusual reasons.]]
* CallARabbitASmeerp[=/=]CallASmeerpARabbit: On Keiss, Kusac brings down a long legged animal that Guynor calls a ''rhakla''. Carrie calls it a deer. As a native of a distant colony planet, it is neither.
** Jeggets also are frequently described as being like ferrets with bushy tails.
* CarnivoreConfusion: Sholans are feline omnivores with a preference for meat.
** Averted with the M'Zullians. they seem to prefer their meat freshly killed.
** The Telaxaudin eat insects, which is funny because they themselves are described as being sort of like insects.
* CasualInterstellarTravel: Lots of trips that cover many light-years in a matter of days or weeks.
* CatFolk: Sholans, obviously. With a strong racial proclivity towards PsychicPowers
* CelibateHero: Kaid repeatedly turns down female advances thanks to a problem with a past bedroom scene gone horribly wrong which he does not want to repeat. He does his best to avoid the woman he loves, even after he's had her once, because he does not want this to happen with her, and because he thinks having a relationship will make him weak.
* CharmPerson: This series is loaded with these due to the main characters being mostly strong telepaths.
** In the second and third books, Ghezu is Made of this trope.
** Later on, so is Derwent.
* TheChessmaster: The Camarilla has, for many centuries, been a manipulative [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness collective version]] of this, resulting in an AncientConspiracy.
** They had considered adding the Touibans to their assembly at one point.
* CoolStarship: The ''Khalossa'' exemplifies this nicely. Ambassadorial suites, stores, lounges. It's all good.
** The ''wilderness'' area buried deep inside this '''HUGE''' military ship just makes this ship even more desirable.
** After a routine overhaul and a few upgrades, the Couana also seems to qualify.
* CoverDrop: Each and every book's cover is at least ''based'' on a scene from that book. Not all are exact, but the scenes they're based on are all easily identifiable.
* CryonicsFailure: Carrie's mother's cryo unit failed during the trip out from Earth. So dod about 1/3 of the other colonists' units.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Kaid, full stop.
** T'Chebbi, Rezac, and Zashou as well, but none to the same extent as Kaid.
* DealWithTheDevil: Only in this series, it's called making a pact with the Liege of Hell.
* DesignerBabies: The Valtegans steal samples from our captive heroes and use them to create Human/Sholan hybrid cubs, which they then place in growth tanks to quickly age them to about 10 years old.
* DidTheyOrDidntThey: Readers have to frequently speculate as to whether or not a couple of characters have had sex or not. The author cleverly keeps mum about it, leaving it up to the readers to decide for themselves.
** One big example is Kaid and Kusac.
* DoesNotLikeShoes: Sholans in general. They're digitgrade felines with 4 sets of retractable claws.
* {{Doorstopper}}: The first book came in at under 300 pages. From the second book on, they average over 650 pages.
* DoubleEntendre: There are some instances of this in the series, although not so many you feel overwhelmed by it.
* DuelToTheDeath: Sholans still practice this. Bare handed yet. Remember: 200+ pound felines.
** Several duels are fought during the series. [[spoiler: Most end in the death of the challenger, one way or another.]]
* EarnYourHappyEnding: The heroes in this series go through A LOT. Once in a while the author [[{{ThrowTheDogABone}} throws them a bone]], only to [[{{YankTheDogsChain}} snatch it away again]]. Hopefully by the end, they'll hit the KarmicJackpot.
* EnemyCivilWar: Turns out the Valtegans were really in the middle of one.
* TheEmpath: Lots of them. The [[{{Telepathy}} telepaths]] don't count here.
* TheEmpire: The above-mentioned war turns out to be two of four Valtegan home planets. The other two are much less warlike.
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: Some Sholans believe this will happen with the introduction of the Humans to their society, but a much more drastic version of this trope is hovering over the heads of just about everyone while [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness The Chessmasters]] play their games.
** It already happened '''for real''' to 2 Sholan colony worlds just before the opening of the first book.
*** [[spoiler: It happens again in the sixth book. All three are courtesy of the AxCrazy M'Zullians and their [[WeaponOfMassDestruction stolen weapon system]].]]
* ExpressDelivery: Human gestational period of 9 months is overruled by the Sholan gestational period of about 6 months. In addition to this, Kashini is born early due to the effects of her parents experiencing time travel.
** A couple of babies are born prematurely due to unforeseen and/or natural circumstances.
** [[spoiler: The Human/Sholan hybrids that resulted from stolen DNA are created in test tubes and have their growth accelerated in tanks to approximately 10 years of age in a few weeks time.]]
* FantasticRacism: The author gives little page time to this, but...
** Most Valtegans display this by the trainload.
** Guynor goes this direction in the first book.
** Brother Dzaou starts off in this direction within minutes of coming out of cryo during the sixth book.
* FlatCharacter: With the LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters in this series, there are a few who don't get much page time. Character development absolutely requires that lots of page time be devoted to a given character.
** As such, the above mentioned General Kezule is the polar opposite of flat.
* FrothyMugsOfWater: Thanks to BizarreAlienBiology the Sholans find coffee affects them like alcohol. The stronger it is, the more drunk it makes them. This leads to a sort of ICantBelieveItsNotHeroin effect, as you tend to read the word coffee for so long, with so many characters drinking it casually, you almost forget it's alcoholic for them.
** Chocolate has even more ''Interesting'' effects on Sholans.
*** Yet Kusac still offers some to his '''son''' at one point in the eighth book.
* GodsHandsAreTied: Played with with Vartra in the seventh book. [[spoiler: The Camarilla are mortals, but they still tie Vartra's hands.]]
* GooGooGodlike: Kashini is born with her telepathic abilities fully awakened after her mother time travels while pregnant.
** The Directorate's 8 Human/Sholan hybrids are brought out of growth tanks at approximately the age of 10 with their telepathic abilities fully awake and trained thanks to sleep tape training.
* HaveYouTriedNotBeingAMonster: The Humans living on Keiss don't believe in telepathy, and therefore think Carrie is a freak. This results in people close to her trying to either convince her to act more normal, or act like she can't read minds at all.
* HeadTiltinglyKinky: While there are SOME details included in the more intimate scenes, the author has kept them somewhat vague, leaving the nitty gritty details up to the imagination of the reader. Enjoy!
* HeelFaceTurn: Kezule, sort of.
** Nearly the entire fan base still seems to dislike him, although many grudgingly admit he's more of a NobleDemon than a complete [[{{Heel}} meanie]]. He could also be evolving toward being a NobleBigot, which is slightly less evil than the NobleDemon in that he is trying to do good (whereas the NobleDemon does good in spite of himself), but he's still a nasty individual.
* HigherTechSpecies: The Sholans and their Alliance partners pull this off perfectly.
* HumanAliens: The Jalnans look almost exactly like Earth-born Humans.
** Due to her Sholan eyes, Carrie is able to pass herself off as a ''Solnian'', as opposed to being mistaken for another Jalnan.
* HumanlikeHandAnatomy: An interesting variation. The Sholans are a felinoid race with retractable fingers, enabling them to alternately run on all fours or grip things with human-like hands.
* HumansAreSpecial: Things really start cookin' in the Alliance when the Sholans discover them on Keiss. Watch out, universe!
** [[spoiler: Humans are not merely a Loose Cannon, but an entire ''Loose Artillery Battalion'' variable in the Camarilla's schemes and calculations]].
* HumansArePsychicInTheFuture: Human telepaths weren't recognized until the Terrans met the Sholans, a certain percentage of which have psi abilities.
* HumongousMecha: In the eighth book, the Sholan military has recently introduced a mecha called the MUTAC. (Think multi-ton quadruped-x-biped powered armor. Design is based on the feline Sholan.) It even appears on the cover of the eighth book.
* ICantBelieveItsNotHeroin: Both strong '''coffee''' and, apparently, small amounts of ordinary '''chocolate''' will do strange things to Sholans.
* IdiotBall: Who's idea was it to make torturer priest J'koshuk the interface between the Primes and the crew and passengers of the Rryuk's Profit?
* IKEAErotica: Averted. The handful of sex scenes in each book (starting with the second one; there were none in the first) are either rather well-written and convey a good impression of the characters' emotions; or the act itself is skipped (the literary version of a SexyDiscretionShot), focusing instead on the build-up and aftermath.
* InterspeciesRomance: Kusac and Carrie Aldatan, among others.
* IntoxicationEnsues: Due to a little bit of BizarreAlienBiology, Sholans get this with too much coffee or chocolate.
* JediMindTrick: Pulled off with style by Carrie and Kusac in Turning Point.
** Most of the rest of the main characters can pull this off convincingly for the same reason.
*** Maybe because most of them are high-level [[{{Telepathy}} telepaths]]?
* {{Jerkass}}: Several characters come to mind. Some worse than others, some intermittently, some accidentally.
** Best example: Hkairass. Double points for this Telaxaudin. (See Meaningful Name below)
*** [[spoiler: He even goes so far as to try and get the DesignatedHero '''shot'''.]]
* KarmicDeath: Several of them.
** Fire Margins gives us:
*** Fyak at the hands of his angry victims. (NightmareFuel if you think about it [[spoiler: 200+ pound felines]].)
*** Ghezu gets his by his own request for personal combat with Kaid. (See Badass Long Robe example above.)
** Razor's Edge gives us Bradogan getting mowed down by one of his victims. (See Fyak above)
** Dark Nadir gives us J'Koshuk on the receiving end of an EnergyBall from an '''Extremely''' angry Kusac.
** [[spoiler: Shades Of Gray gives us two and almost gives us a third.]]
* KickTheDog: The Valtegans do this on page 1.
** Ghezu and Kezule get their moments, too.
* LadyOfWar: WordOfGod says that Carrie fits in here.
* LaResistance: The human colonists are trying to get rid of tech-superior and more numerous AlienInvaders. They eventually get the help they need.
** There's even one on the primitive planet of Jalna. Some local lords trying to improve the fairness of the trade balance.
* LawOfInverseFertility: Most of our heroes can't be bothered with the trouble of being pregnant and/or raising cubs at the moment, usually due to some professional demands on their time. Thanks to ButICantBePregnant, this happens at a couple of inopportune times. Conversely, characters who ''DO'' want to reproduce together seem to occasionally run into snags such as being from different genetically incompatible species.
* LittleMissBadass: Do not underestimate the women in these books, they have some serious WaifFu!
** Best example: T'Chebbi.
** Even Carrie gets her moments.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: Numerous new characters get introduced with each new book.
* LukeIAmYourFather: Hooo boy.... Played with and pretty much [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig-Zagged]]. Mostly inverted.
** Inverted with Kaid and Dzaka.
*** Kaid does everything he can to avoid letting Dzaka know that he is Kaid's son. (There's a '''VERY''' good reason.)
** Flipped to a LukeYouAreMyFather with Rezac and Kaid.
*** Due to a stasis cube and more than 1500 years worth of time travel issues, Rezac is the 25 year-old father of 50 year-old Kaid. His grandson, Dzaka is 35 or so.
*** Kaid decides that Rezac should be listed as his younger brother.
** Don't even get me started with Josh and Mara's cub.
* MagicPoweredPseudoscience: Turns out that Vartra was using his own telepathic abilities (unwittingly) to mutate DNA, which was why only his experiments resulted in more powerful telepaths.
* MakeWrongWhatOnceWentRight: This is Kezule's original goal after being brought to the future. He is a MagnificentBastard in trying to get back to his own time to accomplish it.
* MamaBear: Threaten Carrie's loved ones and this is what you get.
* MateOrDie: Leska pairs literally live and die by this one.
* MeaningfulName: The Telaxaudin, Hkairass. (See Jerkass above)
* MindLinkMates: Carrie and Kusac, Leska pairs in general.
* MindOverManners: While Sholan telepaths have a strict code of ethics they follow when using their Talent, the Humans they hook up with tend to be a bad influence, often breaking the rules and eventually influencing their Leskas to do the same.
* MisfitMobilizationMoment: We almost get one in the first book. But we ''DEFINITELY'' get one in the fifth book.
* MistakenForPregnant: In the early days, Sholans unfamiliar with Human female anatomy would [[{{MistakenForPregnant}} mistake them for pregnant]] due to the fact that Human women have breasts all the time, whereas Sholan females only have them when pregnant or breastfeeding.
* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate: Who appointed Chy'qui to be the head of medical research anyway?
* MutantDraftBoard: The Telepath Guild is a mild, friendly version of this.
** Seems to be getting played straight on Earth eventually.
* MutilationInterrogation by way of {{Fingore}}: In ''Fire Margins''.
* [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Names to Run Away From]]: Hkairass, Kezule, J'koshuk, K'hedduk, M'ezozakk, there's more.
** The Valtegans must ''really'' love their 'K' names.
* NaturalWeapon: Sholans are all about this. Claws, teeth, powerful muscles and real speed.
** With their heavier gravity background, the Valtegans get some of this.
** The Sumaan get theirs too. Especially gangly, clumsy young Ashay.
* NoPeriodsPeriod: Most Sholan females are able to voluntarily control their fertility. Plus or minus male 'Persuasion'.
* NotSoHarmlessVillain: Played straight with this series.
** Kusac pulls this off in the first book.
** It is eventually revealed that a group of telepaths have pulled this off against an '''entire empire''' over 1500 years ago.
** In the seventh book we have K'hedduk becoming emperor after playing the part of a kitchen steward.
* OhMyGods: Shola has an extensive pantheon. Different versions can be found throughout the series.
** Due to Vartra being directly linked to the Telepaths, 'Vartra's Bones!' is said frequently.
* OldMaster: Noni is definitely the Old Master of this series, but it looks like she may have some competition for that title in Conner.
* OneHitKill: Kusac does this in Dark Nadir, cooking someone from the inside out ... ''[[{{Telepathy}} with his mind.]]''
* OnlyOneName: Lots of one-name characters. Most notably the Valtegans and Primes, the Telaxaudin, and the Cabbarans.
** Some Sholans get this as well. Some Sholans start out with one name and acquire a second name in later chapters/books.
* PapaWolf: Threaten Kusac or Kaid's loved ones, and this is what you get.
* PersonOfMassDestruction: Kusac has the potential for this if three things come together and add up:
** 1; He realizes the full extent of his abilities,
** 2; He gets angry about how the Camarilla has been manipulating him.
** 3; He finds out where they are located. [[spoiler: By the end of Shades of Gray, 1 and 2 have pretty much fallen into place.]]
* PlanetLooters: After applying their [[WeaponOfMassDestruction Ultimate Weapon]] to J'kirtik, The M'Zullians proceed to loot their long-time rivals' planet for any remaining goodies.
* PowerLevels: In the second book, Kusac claims to be a grade 5. He is later forced to admit to being a much more powerful grade 1.
** [[spoiler: With his "repairs", Kusac is still a grade 1, but this troper feels that the existing scale may need to be adjusted or revised in order to accommodate his abilities vs those of everybody else.]]
** Kusac is like ... UpToEleven or TookALevelInBadass.
* ThePowerOfBlood: It seems like a lot of important Sholan rituals are sealed in blood via small cuts on the hand. Some examples include ...
** Bonding Contracts.
** Sword-Brother Oaths.
* PregnantBadass: Carrie. Full stop.
** Let's review; fights and wins a DuelToTheDeath, (Loses the baby due to injuries sustained in the fight) Goes off time travelling, Escapes from captivity on an alien starship...
* PrehensileTail: Sholans get a weak version. They can wrap it around a leg or wrist, but not do anything truly useful with it.
* PsychicPowers: [[{{Telepathy}} Telepaths]] make up most of the major cast.
** [[spoiler: Kusac develops more than merely telepathic abilities after his ''repairs''.]]
* PsychicRadar: Several different characters have used this for scouting purposes.
* PunctuationShaker: Several different characters get saddled with ' names. For example, T'chebbi.
* TheReptilians: The Valtegans, the Sumaan.
* RunningOnAllFours: All Sholans will do this when they need to cover a lot of ground in a hurry while they are on foot.
* RipVanWinkle / ColdSleepColdFuture: Rezac and Zashou get over 1500 years of this thanks to a strange sort of stasis box.
* SequelHook: The first book ended ''fairly'' neatly. All subsequent books have arrived with CliffHanger endings.
** The eighth book, Shades of Gray, does end ''fairly'' neatly. Buth there is still some hook.
* SubspaceAnsible: The Sholan Alliance has found one and put it to very good use.
* SufficientlyAdvancedAlien: The Cabbarans and the Telaxaudin seem to pull this off.
** And they are trouble anywhere they are seen due to [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness being]] [[TheChessmaster Chessmasters]].
* SurvivalMantra: The Brotherhood of Vartra's Litanies, which are designed to help one overcome various mental/emotional hurdles.
** In no particular order, they are the Litanies for Pain, Relaxation, Fear (inspired by the one from {{Dune}}), Clear Thought, and Preparation. They're never actually spelled out within the narrative, and in fact weren't more than named/mentioned until the seventh book in the series, where they were included on otherwise blank pages between chapters, spaced throughout the book.
*** Side-note: they were actually written by members of the books' fan club.
* {{Technopath}}: Thanks to having been TouchedByVorlons, Kusac develops this.
* TimeTravel: To an almost ludicrously headache-inducing level. Luckily, it's all a StableTimeLoop over 1500 years across, and not a TimeyWimeyBall... [[spoiler: At first.]]
* TimeTravelTenseTrouble: "I have a daughter alive in the past!" Unfortunately, someone rather brutally points out that, since she's in the very distant past, she's also been dead for ''millennia'', and there's nothing he can do.
* TitleDrop: Usually word-for-word, but occasionally merely ''almost'' exact. Some even TitleDrop the titles of ''other'' books in the series, usually that of the following book...which probably counts as some degree of {{Foreshadowing}}.
* TriangRelations: Not to be confused with the LoveTriangle, wherein someone usually has to go, this series has many TriangRelations which can sometimes lead to Triads when Leskas are involved. Sholans play it loose with fidelity, but they don't have all of the lies and deceit a lot of adulterous Humans have, so they seem to be cool with their partners taking lovers and so forth. Carrie having two husbands (Kusac and Kaid) at the same time, who may or may not also be sleeping with each other as Sword-Brothers, is a fine example of this trope. Don't forget to mix in Kaid's recognized Companion, T'Chebbi, who also sometimes sleeps with Kusac when Carrie and Kaid are getting busy. It can also be speculated Carrie and T'Chebbi have been intimate, although the degree of intimacy is never specified. Ah, love. I suppose you could classify it more as a LoveDodecahedron, but that seems to have just as negative a connotation as the LoveTriangle, and once again, in this series all involved are totally cool with the sleeping arrangements ... 99.9% of the time.
** You could also throw in a little OT3 or PowerTrio trope-dom here.
* TooDumbToLive: The Valtegan Empire (InNameOnly) suffers from a coup; the new leader wishes to return his species to power and subjugate all the other "slave races". Unfortunately, those same slave races had just signed treaties with his predecessor (who's legitimate heir is off-world), and they're ''not happy''.
* TookALevelInBadass: Telepaths can't fight. So why, during the '''First''' book, does Kusac challenge someone?
** Apparently, his Link with Carrie gave him a boost and some incentive.
* TouchedByVorlons: Kusac gets some of this in Stronghold Rising and it finally surfaces in Between Darkness and Light.
** [[spoiler: Vartra himself seems to have gotten a little of this. or maybe it's because he IS a God.]]
* TrainingFromHell: Kaid is an expert at this, and applies it to friends (Kusac) and enemies (under duress) quite expertly.
* [[spoiler: TransformationSequence: Happens to Kusac more than once in Shades of Gray.]]
* TwinTelepathy: Carrie and her twin Elise are twins linked to the point of Synchronization, with Carrie experiencing all pain and illness of either of them.
** It is theorized that Elise's death caused Carrie and Kusac to become Leska Linked to begin with.
* {{Tykebomb}}: Shaidan has the potential for this as he is close to his father's psi talent power level.
** Due to being born with her psi talents fully active, Kashini might count as this as well.
* {{Uncoffee}}: C'shar. Carrie compares it to tea in the first book. It doesn't seem to measure up.
* UnstoppableRage: Happens to a number of characters throughout the series.
** The Sholans call this state Kzu-Shu, the red mist.
* VictoriousChildhoodFriend: T'Chebbi held a flame for Kaid after he saved her from the Packs, but never felt comfortable staking any claim on him until a later time. He was not opposed to her advances and they are a legitimate item, even though he is part of a Triad.
* VisionaryVillain: To varying degrees ...
** Kezule
** Khedduk
** The Camarilla
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: Kusac plays the part of an ordinary forest feline in order to get medical attention for his crash-related injury.
** Maybe more like ObfuscatingStupidity there.
*** Carrie is a pro at ObfuscatingStupidity as shown in Turning Point when she avoids Valtegan scrutiny in a bar raid.
* YouCantFightFate: Although all our main characters, especially Kaid, try to at some point or another.
* ZigZaggingTrope: Related to LukeIAmYourFather above with Josh and Mara's cub. She's pregnant but won't reveal the father's identity.
* We keep finding more...
----
Humanity has finally colonized a planet around a distant star. They soon discover that they are Not Alone in the universe. Then, things go downhill. Things get a little complicated from there when the Sholans, a race of intelligent, mostly bipedal felines with advanced technology show up on a rescue mission.
The series currently consists of eight novels:
* ''Turning Point''
* ''Fortune's Wheel''
* ''Fire Margins''
* ''Razor's Edge''
* ''Dark Nadir''
* ''Stronghold Rising''
* ''Between Darkness and Light''
* ''Shades Of Gray''
...With a ninth book currently in the works, to be titled ''Avatar''.
----
!!This series contains examples of:
* AbusingTheKardashevScaleForFunAndProfit: Sholans (really, the Alliance as a whole) probably rank as a high Type I. The Valtegans are around the same level.
** The [[spoiler:Camarilla]] is at least a mid-level Class II; they have the capability of [[spoiler: not only opening instantaneous-travel portals through space, but ''time'' as well]]. While they do bemoan the energy expenditure required for this, they are further stated to be capable of [[spoiler: using this technology to transport their '''planet''' to another suitable star system, albeit by forcing its current sun to go supernova and harnessing the energy it produces in the process to fuel the transport.]]
* ActionMom: Carrie FTW.
* AerithAndBob: Where to start when you have over half a dozen species with featured parts in the later books.
** For a pair of aliens, Kusac and Vanna have very Bob names. While Garras and T'Chebbi are more Aerith.
** Ross Derwent seems like a very Aerith name for a human.
** Then we have the Valtegans, the Cabarrans and the Telaxaudin, whose names are ''very'' Aerith, which is to be expected.
* AIIsACrapshoot: Played straight with the Prime A I, Zshadi.
* AliensAreBastards: Played straight with the Valtegans and Chemerians.
** They even torture the main character's twin sister.
** Averted with ''most'' of the other species.
* AlienInvasion: Happens about a decade before the opening of the first book.
** Then more aliens arrive, resulting in a BenevolentAlienInvasion.
* AlienSky: Shola has two moons. One of them has a very large, recent crater.
* AliensMadeThemDoIt: Case in point, Kusac and Zayshul being manipulated by [[{{TheChessMaster}} The Chessmasters]]. Eventually this becomes more a case of KissingUnderTheInfluence since neither Kusac or Zayshul seems to be complaining about it anymore.
* AliensSpeakingEnglish: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] for some Sholans, as they've been taught English by way of a Telepathic transfer.
** Played straight with the vast majority of the dialog simply by applying the TranslationConvention.
** Oddly enough, it is mentioned at one point that the main female character is conversing with a fellow human in English after many months of only speaking Sholan.
* AlmightyJanitor: Sort of: K'hedduk starts off as a lowly '''steward''' then murders his way to the Imperial Throne.
* ApocalypseHow: The M'Zullians visit a Planetary Class 4 variant on 2 planets before the first book opens. Once more near the end of the sixth.
** Due to an accidental ColonyDrop, a Planet-wide overweight Class 1 / underachieving Class 2 version happens to Shola over 1500 years ago.
*** Sholans call it ''The Cataclysm''.
*** [[spoiler: Ancient Valtegan dreadnoughts must have been '''HUGE''' to gouge a big enough chunk out of one of Shola's moons to cause the kind of damage attributed to The Cataclysm.]]
* ArrangedMarriage: Kusac '''hates''' Rala. [[spoiler: Carrie gets rid of her. ''Permanently''.]]
** Another arranged marriage becomes an important plot point in the fifth book.
* AuthorAvatar: Carrie basically IS Ms. Norman in her younger days.
* AntiHero / AntiVillain: It's been brought up recently in the fan club discussion that General Kezule is all over this.
* AnyoneCanDie: Almost. But several major characters Have joined their ancestors.
* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: [[spoiler: Vartra]] gets this.
** Even if he was a mere mortal during [[spoiler: Fire Margins]].
*** That's sort of the point, though.
** You have to wonder if Kusac is headed this way, or heck, his entire Triad.
* AxCrazy: The M'Zullians get this way when they sense that they are in the presence of Sholans.
** They make suicide attacks or even go catatonic when they find this happening
* BadAssLongRobe: Mainly Kaid, but can apply to any of the Brothers or Sisters.
** Especially potent example occurs in Fire Margins when Kaid [[UpToEleven really]] [[LetsGetDangerous gets dangerous]] by [[TheCoatsAreOff removing the robe]] to fight Ghezu.
* BerserkButton: Do NOT attempt to harm Carrie. You will NOT survive the wrath of Kusac.
* {{BFS}}: during Razor's Edge, Carrie and Kusac get a matched pair for their mission to Jalna.
* BizarreAlienBiology: Both averted and played straight. [[spoiler: There's a reason for the aversion...]] [[spoiler: Carrie and Kusac have children.]]
** Played straight with some of the Valtegans, as they have some strange stuff going on.
* BloodBrothers: Any set of Sword-brothers falls into this trope. Sometimes they are more like HeterosexualLifePartners and sometimes they are actual lovers. This can sometimes result in DidTheyOrDidntThey.
** Kusac and Kaid.
** Banner and Jurrell.
* BreakTheCutie: The Valtegans do this to everyone they get anywhere near.
** Carrie gets this,
** Even Vanna gets a little of this.
* ButICantBePregnant: Pretty much every mixed Leska pair and/or gene-altered telepath or Brother/Sister experiences this at least once.
** [[spoiler: Inverted for Mara for... unusual reasons.]]
* CallARabbitASmeerp[=/=]CallASmeerpARabbit: On Keiss, Kusac brings down a long legged animal that Guynor calls a ''rhakla''. Carrie calls it a deer. As a native of a distant colony planet, it is neither.
** Jeggets also are frequently described as being like ferrets with bushy tails.
* CarnivoreConfusion: Sholans are feline omnivores with a preference for meat.
** Averted with the M'Zullians. they seem to prefer their meat freshly killed.
** The Telaxaudin eat insects, which is funny because they themselves are described as being sort of like insects.
* CasualInterstellarTravel: Lots of trips that cover many light-years in a matter of days or weeks.
* CatFolk: Sholans, obviously. With a strong racial proclivity towards PsychicPowers
* CelibateHero: Kaid repeatedly turns down female advances thanks to a problem with a past bedroom scene gone horribly wrong which he does not want to repeat. He does his best to avoid the woman he loves, even after he's had her once, because he does not want this to happen with her, and because he thinks having a relationship will make him weak.
* CharmPerson: This series is loaded with these due to the main characters being mostly strong telepaths.
** In the second and third books, Ghezu is Made of this trope.
** Later on, so is Derwent.
* TheChessmaster: The Camarilla has, for many centuries, been a manipulative [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness collective version]] of this, resulting in an AncientConspiracy.
** They had considered adding the Touibans to their assembly at one point.
* CoolStarship: The ''Khalossa'' exemplifies this nicely. Ambassadorial suites, stores, lounges. It's all good.
** The ''wilderness'' area buried deep inside this '''HUGE''' military ship just makes this ship even more desirable.
** After a routine overhaul and a few upgrades, the Couana also seems to qualify.
* CoverDrop: Each and every book's cover is at least ''based'' on a scene from that book. Not all are exact, but the scenes they're based on are all easily identifiable.
* CryonicsFailure: Carrie's mother's cryo unit failed during the trip out from Earth. So dod about 1/3 of the other colonists' units.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Kaid, full stop.
** T'Chebbi, Rezac, and Zashou as well, but none to the same extent as Kaid.
* DealWithTheDevil: Only in this series, it's called making a pact with the Liege of Hell.
* DesignerBabies: The Valtegans steal samples from our captive heroes and use them to create Human/Sholan hybrid cubs, which they then place in growth tanks to quickly age them to about 10 years old.
* DidTheyOrDidntThey: Readers have to frequently speculate as to whether or not a couple of characters have had sex or not. The author cleverly keeps mum about it, leaving it up to the readers to decide for themselves.
** One big example is Kaid and Kusac.
* DoesNotLikeShoes: Sholans in general. They're digitgrade felines with 4 sets of retractable claws.
* {{Doorstopper}}: The first book came in at under 300 pages. From the second book on, they average over 650 pages.
* DoubleEntendre: There are some instances of this in the series, although not so many you feel overwhelmed by it.
* DuelToTheDeath: Sholans still practice this. Bare handed yet. Remember: 200+ pound felines.
** Several duels are fought during the series. [[spoiler: Most end in the death of the challenger, one way or another.]]
* EarnYourHappyEnding: The heroes in this series go through A LOT. Once in a while the author [[{{ThrowTheDogABone}} throws them a bone]], only to [[{{YankTheDogsChain}} snatch it away again]]. Hopefully by the end, they'll hit the KarmicJackpot.
* EnemyCivilWar: Turns out the Valtegans were really in the middle of one.
* TheEmpath: Lots of them. The [[{{Telepathy}} telepaths]] don't count here.
* TheEmpire: The above-mentioned war turns out to be two of four Valtegan home planets. The other two are much less warlike.
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: Some Sholans believe this will happen with the introduction of the Humans to their society, but a much more drastic version of this trope is hovering over the heads of just about everyone while [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness The Chessmasters]] play their games.
** It already happened '''for real''' to 2 Sholan colony worlds just before the opening of the first book.
*** [[spoiler: It happens again in the sixth book. All three are courtesy of the AxCrazy M'Zullians and their [[WeaponOfMassDestruction stolen weapon system]].]]
* ExpressDelivery: Human gestational period of 9 months is overruled by the Sholan gestational period of about 6 months. In addition to this, Kashini is born early due to the effects of her parents experiencing time travel.
** A couple of babies are born prematurely due to unforeseen and/or natural circumstances.
** [[spoiler: The Human/Sholan hybrids that resulted from stolen DNA are created in test tubes and have their growth accelerated in tanks to approximately 10 years of age in a few weeks time.]]
* FantasticRacism: The author gives little page time to this, but...
** Most Valtegans display this by the trainload.
** Guynor goes this direction in the first book.
** Brother Dzaou starts off in this direction within minutes of coming out of cryo during the sixth book.
* FlatCharacter: With the LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters in this series, there are a few who don't get much page time. Character development absolutely requires that lots of page time be devoted to a given character.
** As such, the above mentioned General Kezule is the polar opposite of flat.
* FrothyMugsOfWater: Thanks to BizarreAlienBiology the Sholans find coffee affects them like alcohol. The stronger it is, the more drunk it makes them. This leads to a sort of ICantBelieveItsNotHeroin effect, as you tend to read the word coffee for so long, with so many characters drinking it casually, you almost forget it's alcoholic for them.
** Chocolate has even more ''Interesting'' effects on Sholans.
*** Yet Kusac still offers some to his '''son''' at one point in the eighth book.
* GodsHandsAreTied: Played with with Vartra in the seventh book. [[spoiler: The Camarilla are mortals, but they still tie Vartra's hands.]]
* GooGooGodlike: Kashini is born with her telepathic abilities fully awakened after her mother time travels while pregnant.
** The Directorate's 8 Human/Sholan hybrids are brought out of growth tanks at approximately the age of 10 with their telepathic abilities fully awake and trained thanks to sleep tape training.
* HaveYouTriedNotBeingAMonster: The Humans living on Keiss don't believe in telepathy, and therefore think Carrie is a freak. This results in people close to her trying to either convince her to act more normal, or act like she can't read minds at all.
* HeadTiltinglyKinky: While there are SOME details included in the more intimate scenes, the author has kept them somewhat vague, leaving the nitty gritty details up to the imagination of the reader. Enjoy!
* HeelFaceTurn: Kezule, sort of.
** Nearly the entire fan base still seems to dislike him, although many grudgingly admit he's more of a NobleDemon than a complete [[{{Heel}} meanie]]. He could also be evolving toward being a NobleBigot, which is slightly less evil than the NobleDemon in that he is trying to do good (whereas the NobleDemon does good in spite of himself), but he's still a nasty individual.
* HigherTechSpecies: The Sholans and their Alliance partners pull this off perfectly.
* HumanAliens: The Jalnans look almost exactly like Earth-born Humans.
** Due to her Sholan eyes, Carrie is able to pass herself off as a ''Solnian'', as opposed to being mistaken for another Jalnan.
* HumanlikeHandAnatomy: An interesting variation. The Sholans are a felinoid race with retractable fingers, enabling them to alternately run on all fours or grip things with human-like hands.
* HumansAreSpecial: Things really start cookin' in the Alliance when the Sholans discover them on Keiss. Watch out, universe!
** [[spoiler: Humans are not merely a Loose Cannon, but an entire ''Loose Artillery Battalion'' variable in the Camarilla's schemes and calculations]].
* HumansArePsychicInTheFuture: Human telepaths weren't recognized until the Terrans met the Sholans, a certain percentage of which have psi abilities.
* HumongousMecha: In the eighth book, the Sholan military has recently introduced a mecha called the MUTAC. (Think multi-ton quadruped-x-biped powered armor. Design is based on the feline Sholan.) It even appears on the cover of the eighth book.
* ICantBelieveItsNotHeroin: Both strong '''coffee''' and, apparently, small amounts of ordinary '''chocolate''' will do strange things to Sholans.
* IdiotBall: Who's idea was it to make torturer priest J'koshuk the interface between the Primes and the crew and passengers of the Rryuk's Profit?
* IKEAErotica: Averted. The handful of sex scenes in each book (starting with the second one; there were none in the first) are either rather well-written and convey a good impression of the characters' emotions; or the act itself is skipped (the literary version of a SexyDiscretionShot), focusing instead on the build-up and aftermath.
* InterspeciesRomance: Kusac and Carrie Aldatan, among others.
* IntoxicationEnsues: Due to a little bit of BizarreAlienBiology, Sholans get this with too much coffee or chocolate.
* JediMindTrick: Pulled off with style by Carrie and Kusac in Turning Point.
** Most of the rest of the main characters can pull this off convincingly for the same reason.
*** Maybe because most of them are high-level [[{{Telepathy}} telepaths]]?
* {{Jerkass}}: Several characters come to mind. Some worse than others, some intermittently, some accidentally.
** Best example: Hkairass. Double points for this Telaxaudin. (See Meaningful Name below)
*** [[spoiler: He even goes so far as to try and get the DesignatedHero '''shot'''.]]
* KarmicDeath: Several of them.
** Fire Margins gives us:
*** Fyak at the hands of his angry victims. (NightmareFuel if you think about it [[spoiler: 200+ pound felines]].)
*** Ghezu gets his by his own request for personal combat with Kaid. (See Badass Long Robe example above.)
** Razor's Edge gives us Bradogan getting mowed down by one of his victims. (See Fyak above)
** Dark Nadir gives us J'Koshuk on the receiving end of an EnergyBall from an '''Extremely''' angry Kusac.
** [[spoiler: Shades Of Gray gives us two and almost gives us a third.]]
* KickTheDog: The Valtegans do this on page 1.
** Ghezu and Kezule get their moments, too.
* LadyOfWar: WordOfGod says that Carrie fits in here.
* LaResistance: The human colonists are trying to get rid of tech-superior and more numerous AlienInvaders. They eventually get the help they need.
** There's even one on the primitive planet of Jalna. Some local lords trying to improve the fairness of the trade balance.
* LawOfInverseFertility: Most of our heroes can't be bothered with the trouble of being pregnant and/or raising cubs at the moment, usually due to some professional demands on their time. Thanks to ButICantBePregnant, this happens at a couple of inopportune times. Conversely, characters who ''DO'' want to reproduce together seem to occasionally run into snags such as being from different genetically incompatible species.
* LittleMissBadass: Do not underestimate the women in these books, they have some serious WaifFu!
** Best example: T'Chebbi.
** Even Carrie gets her moments.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: Numerous new characters get introduced with each new book.
* LukeIAmYourFather: Hooo boy.... Played with and pretty much [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig-Zagged]]. Mostly inverted.
** Inverted with Kaid and Dzaka.
*** Kaid does everything he can to avoid letting Dzaka know that he is Kaid's son. (There's a '''VERY''' good reason.)
** Flipped to a LukeYouAreMyFather with Rezac and Kaid.
*** Due to a stasis cube and more than 1500 years worth of time travel issues, Rezac is the 25 year-old father of 50 year-old Kaid. His grandson, Dzaka is 35 or so.
*** Kaid decides that Rezac should be listed as his younger brother.
** Don't even get me started with Josh and Mara's cub.
* MagicPoweredPseudoscience: Turns out that Vartra was using his own telepathic abilities (unwittingly) to mutate DNA, which was why only his experiments resulted in more powerful telepaths.
* MakeWrongWhatOnceWentRight: This is Kezule's original goal after being brought to the future. He is a MagnificentBastard in trying to get back to his own time to accomplish it.
* MamaBear: Threaten Carrie's loved ones and this is what you get.
* MateOrDie: Leska pairs literally live and die by this one.
* MeaningfulName: The Telaxaudin, Hkairass. (See Jerkass above)
* MindLinkMates: Carrie and Kusac, Leska pairs in general.
* MindOverManners: While Sholan telepaths have a strict code of ethics they follow when using their Talent, the Humans they hook up with tend to be a bad influence, often breaking the rules and eventually influencing their Leskas to do the same.
* MisfitMobilizationMoment: We almost get one in the first book. But we ''DEFINITELY'' get one in the fifth book.
* MistakenForPregnant: In the early days, Sholans unfamiliar with Human female anatomy would [[{{MistakenForPregnant}} mistake them for pregnant]] due to the fact that Human women have breasts all the time, whereas Sholan females only have them when pregnant or breastfeeding.
* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate: Who appointed Chy'qui to be the head of medical research anyway?
* MutantDraftBoard: The Telepath Guild is a mild, friendly version of this.
** Seems to be getting played straight on Earth eventually.
* MutilationInterrogation by way of {{Fingore}}: In ''Fire Margins''.
* [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Names to Run Away From]]: Hkairass, Kezule, J'koshuk, K'hedduk, M'ezozakk, there's more.
** The Valtegans must ''really'' love their 'K' names.
* NaturalWeapon: Sholans are all about this. Claws, teeth, powerful muscles and real speed.
** With their heavier gravity background, the Valtegans get some of this.
** The Sumaan get theirs too. Especially gangly, clumsy young Ashay.
* NoPeriodsPeriod: Most Sholan females are able to voluntarily control their fertility. Plus or minus male 'Persuasion'.
* NotSoHarmlessVillain: Played straight with this series.
** Kusac pulls this off in the first book.
** It is eventually revealed that a group of telepaths have pulled this off against an '''entire empire''' over 1500 years ago.
** In the seventh book we have K'hedduk becoming emperor after playing the part of a kitchen steward.
* OhMyGods: Shola has an extensive pantheon. Different versions can be found throughout the series.
** Due to Vartra being directly linked to the Telepaths, 'Vartra's Bones!' is said frequently.
* OldMaster: Noni is definitely the Old Master of this series, but it looks like she may have some competition for that title in Conner.
* OneHitKill: Kusac does this in Dark Nadir, cooking someone from the inside out ... ''[[{{Telepathy}} with his mind.]]''
* OnlyOneName: Lots of one-name characters. Most notably the Valtegans and Primes, the Telaxaudin, and the Cabbarans.
** Some Sholans get this as well. Some Sholans start out with one name and acquire a second name in later chapters/books.
* PapaWolf: Threaten Kusac or Kaid's loved ones, and this is what you get.
* PersonOfMassDestruction: Kusac has the potential for this if three things come together and add up:
** 1; He realizes the full extent of his abilities,
** 2; He gets angry about how the Camarilla has been manipulating him.
** 3; He finds out where they are located. [[spoiler: By the end of Shades of Gray, 1 and 2 have pretty much fallen into place.]]
* PlanetLooters: After applying their [[WeaponOfMassDestruction Ultimate Weapon]] to J'kirtik, The M'Zullians proceed to loot their long-time rivals' planet for any remaining goodies.
* PowerLevels: In the second book, Kusac claims to be a grade 5. He is later forced to admit to being a much more powerful grade 1.
** [[spoiler: With his "repairs", Kusac is still a grade 1, but this troper feels that the existing scale may need to be adjusted or revised in order to accommodate his abilities vs those of everybody else.]]
** Kusac is like ... UpToEleven or TookALevelInBadass.
* ThePowerOfBlood: It seems like a lot of important Sholan rituals are sealed in blood via small cuts on the hand. Some examples include ...
** Bonding Contracts.
** Sword-Brother Oaths.
* PregnantBadass: Carrie. Full stop.
** Let's review; fights and wins a DuelToTheDeath, (Loses the baby due to injuries sustained in the fight) Goes off time travelling, Escapes from captivity on an alien starship...
* PrehensileTail: Sholans get a weak version. They can wrap it around a leg or wrist, but not do anything truly useful with it.
* PsychicPowers: [[{{Telepathy}} Telepaths]] make up most of the major cast.
** [[spoiler: Kusac develops more than merely telepathic abilities after his ''repairs''.]]
* PsychicRadar: Several different characters have used this for scouting purposes.
* PunctuationShaker: Several different characters get saddled with ' names. For example, T'chebbi.
* TheReptilians: The Valtegans, the Sumaan.
* RunningOnAllFours: All Sholans will do this when they need to cover a lot of ground in a hurry while they are on foot.
* RipVanWinkle / ColdSleepColdFuture: Rezac and Zashou get over 1500 years of this thanks to a strange sort of stasis box.
* SequelHook: The first book ended ''fairly'' neatly. All subsequent books have arrived with CliffHanger endings.
** The eighth book, Shades of Gray, does end ''fairly'' neatly. Buth there is still some hook.
* SubspaceAnsible: The Sholan Alliance has found one and put it to very good use.
* SufficientlyAdvancedAlien: The Cabbarans and the Telaxaudin seem to pull this off.
** And they are trouble anywhere they are seen due to [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness being]] [[TheChessmaster Chessmasters]].
* SurvivalMantra: The Brotherhood of Vartra's Litanies, which are designed to help one overcome various mental/emotional hurdles.
** In no particular order, they are the Litanies for Pain, Relaxation, Fear (inspired by the one from {{Dune}}), Clear Thought, and Preparation. They're never actually spelled out within the narrative, and in fact weren't more than named/mentioned until the seventh book in the series, where they were included on otherwise blank pages between chapters, spaced throughout the book.
*** Side-note: they were actually written by members of the books' fan club.
* {{Technopath}}: Thanks to having been TouchedByVorlons, Kusac develops this.
* TimeTravel: To an almost ludicrously headache-inducing level. Luckily, it's all a StableTimeLoop over 1500 years across, and not a TimeyWimeyBall... [[spoiler: At first.]]
* TimeTravelTenseTrouble: "I have a daughter alive in the past!" Unfortunately, someone rather brutally points out that, since she's in the very distant past, she's also been dead for ''millennia'', and there's nothing he can do.
* TitleDrop: Usually word-for-word, but occasionally merely ''almost'' exact. Some even TitleDrop the titles of ''other'' books in the series, usually that of the following book...which probably counts as some degree of {{Foreshadowing}}.
* TriangRelations: Not to be confused with the LoveTriangle, wherein someone usually has to go, this series has many TriangRelations which can sometimes lead to Triads when Leskas are involved. Sholans play it loose with fidelity, but they don't have all of the lies and deceit a lot of adulterous Humans have, so they seem to be cool with their partners taking lovers and so forth. Carrie having two husbands (Kusac and Kaid) at the same time, who may or may not also be sleeping with each other as Sword-Brothers, is a fine example of this trope. Don't forget to mix in Kaid's recognized Companion, T'Chebbi, who also sometimes sleeps with Kusac when Carrie and Kaid are getting busy. It can also be speculated Carrie and T'Chebbi have been intimate, although the degree of intimacy is never specified. Ah, love. I suppose you could classify it more as a LoveDodecahedron, but that seems to have just as negative a connotation as the LoveTriangle, and once again, in this series all involved are totally cool with the sleeping arrangements ... 99.9% of the time.
** You could also throw in a little OT3 or PowerTrio trope-dom here.
* TooDumbToLive: The Valtegan Empire (InNameOnly) suffers from a coup; the new leader wishes to return his species to power and subjugate all the other "slave races". Unfortunately, those same slave races had just signed treaties with his predecessor (who's legitimate heir is off-world), and they're ''not happy''.
* TookALevelInBadass: Telepaths can't fight. So why, during the '''First''' book, does Kusac challenge someone?
** Apparently, his Link with Carrie gave him a boost and some incentive.
* TouchedByVorlons: Kusac gets some of this in Stronghold Rising and it finally surfaces in Between Darkness and Light.
** [[spoiler: Vartra himself seems to have gotten a little of this. or maybe it's because he IS a God.]]
* TrainingFromHell: Kaid is an expert at this, and applies it to friends (Kusac) and enemies (under duress) quite expertly.
* [[spoiler: TransformationSequence: Happens to Kusac more than once in Shades of Gray.]]
* TwinTelepathy: Carrie and her twin Elise are twins linked to the point of Synchronization, with Carrie experiencing all pain and illness of either of them.
** It is theorized that Elise's death caused Carrie and Kusac to become Leska Linked to begin with.
* {{Tykebomb}}: Shaidan has the potential for this as he is close to his father's psi talent power level.
** Due to being born with her psi talents fully active, Kashini might count as this as well.
* {{Uncoffee}}: C'shar. Carrie compares it to tea in the first book. It doesn't seem to measure up.
* UnstoppableRage: Happens to a number of characters throughout the series.
** The Sholans call this state Kzu-Shu, the red mist.
* VictoriousChildhoodFriend: T'Chebbi held a flame for Kaid after he saved her from the Packs, but never felt comfortable staking any claim on him until a later time. He was not opposed to her advances and they are a legitimate item, even though he is part of a Triad.
* VisionaryVillain: To varying degrees ...
** Kezule
** Khedduk
** The Camarilla
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: Kusac plays the part of an ordinary forest feline in order to get medical attention for his crash-related injury.
** Maybe more like ObfuscatingStupidity there.
*** Carrie is a pro at ObfuscatingStupidity as shown in Turning Point when she avoids Valtegan scrutiny in a bar raid.
* YouCantFightFate: Although all our main characters, especially Kaid, try to at some point or another.
* ZigZaggingTrope: Related to LukeIAmYourFather above with Josh and Mara's cub. She's pregnant but won't reveal the father's identity.
* We keep finding more...
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