Burn Out

Burn Out by Kristi Helvig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When the synopsis of this books says that Tora needs to "get the hell off the earth," it isn't kidding. This stubborn main character is going to die if she doesn't leave immediately. So she does leave, kicking and screaming, and what an adventure it is.

There was so much to love about this book - the characters, the plot, the non-stop action. It didn't cross the line into "amazing" territory, it almost got there. Tora, the main protagonist, is a gritty orphan with a chip on her shoulder. She's realistic about her prospects and living situation; she's pretty convinced she's going to die soon because of the conditions on the earth. The sun has gone supernova and has burned up most of the earth. What is habitable is either underground or in domes created for people until a new planet was found for them. Everyone has left when we meet Tora - her mother and sister died from exposure to the elements and her dad was murdered.

So she's alone in this bunker her dad built, trying to survive. Her dad's partner Markus shows up to rescue her, but he has a price. When she turns him down, he leaves and comes back - with friends. And the adventure begins with Tora defending her turf and then agreeing to leave the planet with this group of mercenaries.

The action here is palpable. It is fast-paced and relatively believable as science fiction goes. There's a lot of skulking about and people who come around corners shooting. There are crashes and escapes and rescues. It definitely holds interest.

But the real appeal of this book is the characters. They are such a diverse group and even better, who is on who's side? Who are the good guys among the bad guys? Are they really bad guys? Things get muddier and muddier in terms of who to trust. This made for some riveting plot turns.

But the book isn't perfect. There are some places where the actions of the group are somewhat questionable. Feelings among the group members tended to change quickly and sometimes without cause. One character tries to murder another and shortly thereafter are friends and compatriots. It pushed the limits of believability.

Even with its flaws, the book is a great read. On audio it is narrated by Suzy Jackson, who is quite good. Her voice for Tora is authentic and as a voice actor in general she was great.

The book didn't end on a true cliffhanger but it did leave me wanting the next book in the series. I'm in - I can't wait to see what happens to Tora next!

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