Burn Out

Burn Out #1

by Kristi Helvig

Most people want to save the world; seventeen-year-old Tora Reynolds just wants to get the hell off of it. One of the last survivors in Earth's final years, Tora yearns to escape the wasteland her planet has become after the sun turns "red giant," but discovers her fellow survivors are even deadlier than the hostile environment.

Holed up in an underground shelter, Tora is alone--her brilliant scientist father murdered, her mother and sister burned to death. She dreams of living on a planet with oceans, plants, and animals. Unfortunately, the oceans dried out ages ago, the only plants are giant cacti with deadly spines, and her pet, Trigger, is a gun--one of the bio-energetic weapons her father created for the government before his conscience kicked in.

When family friend, Markus, arrives with mercenaries to take the weapons by force, Tora's fury turns to fear when government ships descend in an attempt to kill them all. She forges an unlikely alliance with Markus and his rag-tag group of raiders, including a smart but quiet soldier named James. Tora must quickly figure out who she can trust, as she must choose between saving herself by giving up the guns or honoring her father's request to save humanity from the most lethal weapons in existence.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Post Apocalyptic, Fiction, Fantasy, Space

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 8, 2014

About the author

Kristi Helvig is a Ph.D. clinical psychologist turned sci-fi/fantasy author. She muses about Star Trek, space monkeys, and other assorted topics on her blog. Kristi resides in sunny Colorado with her hubby, two kiddos, and behaviorally-challenged dogs.

Reviews

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 1 out of 5]

Warning: Long science-related rage rant ahead >_<

Putting my trust in James would make me just as dumb. I couldn’t let him get to me no matter how amazing his abs were. Still, that sadness in his eyes—

Look, you fucking moron, a serial killer could have a sad look in his eyes right before he kills you and mounts you. Hopefully mounting in the taxidermy sense and not the sexual sense, but whatever.

I had hoped that a YA sci-fi written by someone with a Ph.D would make sense. I was tragically wrong.

This is probably one of the most outrageously nonsensical dystopian/post-apocalyptic setting I've ever read. The plot is barely worth mentioning, because it stems from one Too-Stupid-To-Live girl's idiotic inability to keep her fucking mouth shut. The book contains pseudo-science that might be believable to a 6th grader. It throws a bunch of abstract scientific bullshit at you in the hopes that something will eventually stick. The setting just doesn't make any sense on top of the inconsistencies. I will go over the setting in excruciating, profanity-filled details in a bit, but let me give you a taste of why this book is so fucking dumb.

It is 300 years in the future. We have almost no oxygen. The oceans have all boiled away. There is no water; water only exists through an artificial system that gathers up water molecules in the air and condenses it into actual drinking water. Because of this, the main character lives on...

"...one cup of water a day."

Let me tell you something. That's bullshit. A human cannot live on one cup of water a day. I don't care if you do nothing in your day but lie in bed, you still need a hell of a lot more water than that. Try 3 liters (or roughly 3 quarts) of water a day. One cup is nothing. The human body can last weeks without food, but only days without water. ONE cup of water (8 ounces) a day doesn't fucking cut it. It's a biological fact.

You lose water through breathing, you lose water through your pores. It's called insensible water loss. You don't necessary see yourself sweating, but rest assured, your pores are constantly breathing water. That's why we wear cotton clothes instead of plastic clothes. Our bodies are constantly losing water and we need to ventilate.

AND YET in the middle of all this water conservation, the people in this book still sweat constantly. Every other chapter is a mention of how someone is drenched in sweat (because Earth's temperature is so hot), and you know, when you're trying to conserve water within your body, you really shouldn't be fucking exercising until you're dripping in sweat.

“Sorry, I thought I’d get a run in before tonight. Did you want to use it?” Although he looked like he’d been running for hours, he barely sounded winded.

And I don't know if you've ever ran for 45 minutes at a gym, but one cup of water a day isn't going to fucking cut it, particularly not on a futuristic treadmill.

...forty-five minutes a day on the motion machine.

The Summary:

“That’s why he made sure [the guns] wouldn’t work for anyone but me.”
Markus looked surprised by my last statement. Oops. Guess I shouldn’t have mentioned that part.

This book wouldn't have happened but for Tora's inability to keep her fucking mouth shut.

It is 300 years in the future. The sun's pretty much went boom, or rather, it KEEPS EXPANDING. It's getting bigger and bigger and burning up the Earth. There's no oxygen, no water. And Tora might be...

...the last girl on Earth

She is an orphan, living in a hideout outside of the pod cities. Her father was a brilliant scientist who designed a bunch of dangerous weapons for the government (the Consulate) only to regret it. The thing is that the weapons are pretty much useless because Tora is the only one who can use them. So the future is hopeless, Tora's running out of air, she's thinking of Plan B (killing herself) when a knock on the door comes. It's a baddie, Markus. Markus wants the weapons that her father designed.

Instead of lying to him or telling him the weapons don't work, or SOMETHING, Tora decides to be a motherfucking moron and tell Markus that she's the only one who can use the deadly weapons.

I wanted to kick myself for telling him about being the sole person who could fire them.

And now after moping and whining (50% of this book is Tora doing absolutely nothing but moping and whining), Markus has come back. WITH COMPANY.

So Tora hears suspicious noises on her underground bunker's door. Instead of like, fucking shutting herself in like what you should do if you suspect there's an intruder, SHE FUCKING GOES OUTSIDE (into oven-like temperature) TO CHECK!

Something was definitely hitting the door. My heart raced. This could go very badly, but I didn’t make it to seventeen by being an apocawuss. I braced myself, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.

MOTHERFUCKING IDIOT. So now it's a 5 vs one fight, and to make it worse, there's YET another party shooting at them. And NOW instead of running the fuck away back into the house like she should have done in the first fucking place, Tora allows the intruders to break into her bunker for safety.

Markus shrugged and had the nerve to smirk at me. “Guess we’re all on the same side now.”

But it's ok, because one of the people trying to kill Tora is James. Dreamy, dreamy James. Who just tried to kill her, but who cares, he's so hot!

His body was solid muscle. Sweat dripped down his face, his chest, his arms … he wasn’t just sort of cute, he was hot.

Her stomach goes "fluttering." Her breath catches.

James and Tora get to know each other. She should be angry with him. But the sadness in his eyes...and...

I should be angry with him, yet a small part of me liked the look on his face.

They exchange Sad Life Stories (tm) (after he tries to kill her).

“They said that the world didn’t need another worthless child to feed and they shot her, her arms still wrapped around me.”

;_;

Tora finds multiple reasons to lift her shirt off for James. Like finding a place to hide a gun.

I turned away and lifted my shirt.

And check on the state of her rib injury.

I shifted my satchel over to the other side, and lifted my shirt up a little.

And play doctor with each other.

Aside from my panties, the only things under this flimsy excuse of a gown were bandages.
“You put me in this gown?”

Will James and Tora ever find a non-medical excuse to take each other's clothes off?

Both his hands slid down toward my hips and his lips almost touched mine. I was no doctor but this was definitely not part of any medical exam I’d ever seen.

Or will Alec, the boy with the puppy, get in the way of their One Twoo Wuv?!

Alec couldn’t die. Somebody as decent as him had to live. He saved the last dog on the planet. Tears welled in my eyes.

The Setting: I'm going to try to type this out without laughing. 300 years ago, the sun went boom because an asteroid hit the earth but we deflected it and it hit the sun instead (?! that's a long fucking distance for an asteroid to travel, damn, son!) but the asteroid contained Dark Matter so it made the sun go BOOM and there goes life on Earth as we know it.

Nope. Failed. BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA AHAHAH OH MY DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!



Ok, the "asteroid" was the size of the moon. 300 years ago is OUR PRESENT DAY. You mind telling us how the fuck we got the technology to launch a rocket that could deflect a giant asteroid into the sun? It's a long fucking way. Furthermore, a moon-sized asteroid would probably be predicted like HUNDREDS OF YEARS ahead of time, so why did it suddenly just fucking happen?! Dark matter inside an asteroid? PLEASE! Dark matter is an energy. It's a concept! It's not like a black hole, it doesn't make things explode. Dark matter just a term to explain things that we cannot actually find electromagnetically, like gravity. IT'S NOT GOING TO CAUSE THE SUN TO GO BOOM. NOT LIKE THIS.

An unexpected reaction occurred and the sun kicked into hyperdrive. It began burning hydrogen like crazy, and before anyone could comprehend what had happened, the helium in the core was exhausted.

So the sun did went boom, against all fucking odds. And now there's no oxygen on earth (?! OMG THE HEAT TOOK AWAY ALL THE OXYGEN TOO?!) and now there are no water because ALL THE SEAS BOILED AWAY. Fuck evaporation, right? Gee, the water cycle. I WONDER WHERE ALL THE FUCKING WATER MOLECULES WENT WHEN IT EVAPORATED AND DIDN'T GO OFF THE EARTH.



So the earth is hot, and if you go outside, expect to catch fire.

Please don’t let me catch fire.

There's no water, but there's a technology designed to harvest motherfucking water molecules from the air. Hmm, WHAT ABOUT THAT WATER CYCLE, HUH?!

When the ponds, lakes, and finally, the oceans had boiled and evaporated, the Consulate scientists came through with technology allowing us to glean the precious water molecules from the atmosphere.
The technology was termed Water in Air Recycling, W.A.R.

And WAR SUCKS, because you can only get enough for one cup of water per person a day. Right. Because the human body can totally live on that.

And now the oceans are gone, the animals and plants are gone, we live on gel foods. There are Pod Houses inside Pod Cities. The United States is now a Sector 5, and we're all ONE BIG HAPPY CONTINENT NOW because the oceans don't exist anymore. We have one common currency. We have one common language (which is English. So sorry, France) but somehow Tora is a rebel because she loves dropping Spanish phrases into her vocabulary.

I was muy caliente, and not in the good way.
Your pink swimsuit looks muy bonita on you, she would tell me. We felt like rebels using Spanish now that it was supposed to be extinct too. Gracias, I’d respond.

What do you call a Spanish weabo?

Tora.

There is hyperdrive speed technology, we can travel to other galaxies, and in fact, we have found a planet that's EXACTLY LIKE OUR OWN. In the solar system Hydrus (Hydro, for water, get it?!?!?!11111). It's exactly like Earth. How very convenient.

Yes, it’s like Earth, minus the astronomical temperatures. Caelia’s sun is where ours was back before the ’roid hit it.” Markus smashed his fist into his palm like I needed a visual. He smirked. “People are already soaking up the rays—right next to the oceans.”

But don't get your hopes up, because we don't get to see anything except the inside of a bunker and a very boring ship.

Oh, and The Ultra Secret Weapon? It's powered by some New Agey HUMAN VIBRATIONS stuff. Sorry, but I have to laugh. I know it's possible, but I can't think back to my high school physics class without laughing at the concept of humans vibrating at a frequency to power a weapon.

The Plot: There was essentially no plot. Very little happens in the book besides Tora being a motherfucking idiot and pretending that she's Under The Sea.

I lay down and pretended to be submerged in the cool depths as the waves crashed above me. It was somehow harder to catch my breath down here on the imaginary ocean floor. After another minute, the need for oxygen overwhelmed me. I must have done a better job visualizing than I thought.

Or else moping and whining and giving us infodump after infodump on this post-apocalyptic world that doesn't make any fucking sense. The romance is forced, as expected, the writing is underwhelming.

Furthermore: WHY NOT JUST KILL HERSELF?! Sorry, but Tora ALREADY had a plan to kill herself because her world is about to end anyway. So she learns that she is the key to a destructive weapon, nobody can use it but her, and people can use her to destroy people, and her morals won't let her give the weapons away. So why not just kill yourself and save the trouble? Sorry if this sounds callous, but if you're already suicidal and millions of lives could be destroyed by a weapon you can fire, then why not? Ugh.

There's also girl-on-girl hate. There is one other girl in this book, and man, is she portrayed to be a jerk, a slut, a sharp-cheeked, bird-faced bitch who sits on guys' laps and does nothing except make dumb plans that gets overthrown by our beautiful, fantastic Tora.

Skip this book.

[Kristi Helvig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course I'm being totally unbiased about my debut novel! ;)

[Lindsay Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Initial Reaction: Holy Crap.

This book is SO good, you guys. I'm a major fan of scifi, and always have been. But reading scifi books really started a few years ago, when I picked up ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis. I devoured those books, and when I was done, I was pretty disappointed to find out that there just wasn't a ton of recent YA like it.

I wanted actual SPACE stuff. Spaceships. Weapons. Aliens. Crazy stuff like that.
That hunger was sated when I watched all of FIREFLY in a course of just a few days. The show sucked me in---the characters, the drama, the amazing plots, and the badA fight scenes.

So, naturally, when I saw the cover reveal for BURN OUT---I wanted that freaking book.
And I got to know the author, Kristi Helvig, over the YA Valentines blog, which we are both members of. She's so sweet and hilarious, so I just knew I'd love her book.
Finally, the day came when I got my hands on on ARC of BURN OUT.

And guys, this book rocked my face off.
Seriously. It's so good.

It has all the perfect elements that I love in a scifi. Action, weapons, advanced technology, spaceships, characters who are a little off their rockers.
The main character, Tora, is a total spitfire. I could really relate to her, and she never really disappointed me. I loved that about her. She always did what she thought was right. Even if that meant leaving herself in isolation because she didn't really trust the people who wanted her dad's weapons.

And by the way, the weapons are super cool. I want a wicked laser-gun thingy. Maybe the author is handing some out as swag...

Overall, if you're looking for something fast-paced, futuristic, and super fun, you'll love Burn Out. This book is great, because you never know who to trust, and your opinions will constantly change---which will keep you hooked.

This is a killer debut, and I am sooo excited for the sequel!

[Sara Raasch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got to read an ARC of BURN OUT through the Valentines, and WOW. I sped through this beauty in less than 24 hours. Lightning-paced, intensity at every turn, and not to mention a gritty, no-nonsense heroine that is at once lovable and deadly. Kristi manages to breathe life and vivacity into a stark, deserted world through characters that grab onto your heart and don't let go!

[Gisbelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Actual Rating: 4.5

One of the most thrilling and unpredictable post-apocalyptic fictions I have ever read. Each scene was so crazy good that it was hard to put down once I started reading this astoundingly well-written book. It was full of suspense and actions I don't know where to start with. A must read for any science fiction fans out there, especially those who love post-apocalyptic fictions.

I was completely in love with the characters because they were complicated. Tora was so feisty that even she was in the toughest situation, she still didn't give in. The other characters, such as Markus, James, Britta and Kale were also such great character, even some of them were so evil I wanted to strangle them.

The plots were creative, well-written and fast-paced. I was amazed by the way the story was told which was so full of surprises and awe-inspiring scenes. The transition from one scene to the next was very nicely executed that it didn't cause me any boredom.

How the book was ending made me want to read the next installment right away. It is hard to predict what will happen next and that makes the wait even harder.

All in all, this is one great book that should not be missed by any science fiction fans or just anyone who wants to read something refreshing and filled with loads of actions and suspense. Kristi Helvig is a debut author that I will keep an eye out for.

Blog: YA Obsession

[Brittany (Brittany's Book Rambles) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received Strange Skies (the sequel to Burn Out) on Netgalley and thought that I should get my hands on this book and give it a go before trying instead of starting with the sequel. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. I had never heard of it before and since it was so little I didn't expect much out of it. Oh boy, Burn Out should be talked about more. Tora is badass and the plot had a lot of twists and turns that left me wanting more. It's fast-paced, action-packed, and heart-wrenching. Plus, there is a smokin' hot guy in it.

Check out my full review on my blog here.

[A. Rolland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so fortunate to have this ARC in my grubby little hands right now. I’m now scolding myself for reading Burn Out so quickly because 1. I was late for work b/c I couldn’t stop reading, and 2. Unfortunately, it’s over.

I grew up on a steady diet of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so I’m all about a kickass heroine with weapons training and a snarky mouth. The beginning reminded me of a futuristic version of the movie Hanna. But of course, Tora has her flaws, her fears, and her fallacies, and that’s what makes her feel so real. The dilemma of choosing between her life and what’s right for the greater good –gah! Such a great read. The novel is fast-paced, completely immersing, and entertaining.

Most of all, it makes me wonder. Makes me ask, “What if…??” I stepped outside today, took a deep breath, and felt thankful for fresh air and for the beauty of our planet. Gut feeling- this story will stay with me long after I’ve closed the book.

Recommend.

[Paula Stokes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Jen McConnel's comment about Han Solo before I started this, and consequently I read all of Tora's inner thoughts in a gruff Harrison Ford voice. Which actually worked. And was especially funny when it came to her lethal right boob. Alas, her boob does not shoot lasers.

But despite that, I really enjoyed this book :) If you like feisty tough girls who don't take any crap from guys, you will looooove Tora. The story also manages to feel very action-packed, even though for large portions of the book she is trapped in a bunker or a spaceship. Also, water. Mmmmmm. Get yourself a tall glass to drink while you read. Yep, 5 out of 5 nephrologists and dieticians recommend this book.

The end manages to be both satisfying and cliffhanger-y, but left me with a lot of questions. Please send book #2 ASAP :D

[Lynne Matson · Rating 5 out of 5]

BURN OUT is a fantastic sci-fi thriller. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. Packed with action and suspense--and a kick-butt premise! Hello, burned-out sun and last girl on Earth!--and characters that keep you guessing whose side they're truly on until the end, BURN OUT will keep you turning the pages late into the night. Totally satisfying…yet BURN OUT leaves you wanting more. AS IN YOU'LL WANT THE SEQUEL RIGHT NOW.:) *sits on hands to avoid spoilers*

An awesome 2014 debut!!!!

[Jaime (Two Chicks on Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was pretty damned awesome! Can't wait for book 2! Tora is badass and I can't tell if I love James or hate him lol

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: This novel was enjoyable, with slight problems, but it left me wanting the sequel after a sudden twist. It’s a dark setting, but the main character’s witty, spitfire personality lightened the mood.

Opening Sentence: Six months and counting, yet not a whisper of a fellow human to be found.

The Review:

Meet Tora: living alone, possibly the last survivor on the planet Earth. Her family is dead. The sun is turning red giant years before scheduled and her father left her a bunch of evil guns that she’s somehow expected to protect from the almighty, corrupt Consortium government. Using her WAR machine to collect water from the air, she gets barely a cup or so a day of water, and she can’t venture outside without a suit in the daytime. Even in the night, storms rage ruthlessly. But soon, she’ll meet some people — some trustworthy, some only using her, who claim they can get her to the newly discovered planet.

Tora is a fun character. She’s witty, sarcastic, determined, and strong — she never gives up. Though her situation sucks, she fights to make it better. Sometimes her spitfire attitude can screw up her position even more, especially when she’s screaming strings of profanities at her captors, but it was also funny to watch. I could compare her to a more hotheaded version of Katniss, from The Hunger Games (as you all know). I also loved how she wasn’t all strength, and had weaknesses and things that hurt her, namely the memories of her family. Her father, she looked up to, for standing up to the Consortium, and his bravery in general. Her mother she didn’t look up to, because towards the end she was addicted to the pain medications and hated life, but Tora misses her all the same. But most of all is Tora’s sister. We get so many memories through Tora’s point of view about how bubbly and sweet her sister was, how kind and hopeful, and the two were very close. Now Tora’s all alone in a burning Earth and trying to keep it together. Her efforts are admirable, if I say so myself, even if she messes up every so often.

There are two love interests, and for me, it was a clear choice. James and another one who comes later, Alec. I didn’t trust James in the slightest. Certain revelations made me appreciate him a tiny bit more, but I still think Alec is a clear winner. He’s funnier, more loyal, and get this — he took care of a dog on the burning earth, sharing his meager supply of water so it didn’t die. Tora likes them both, though I don’t know what she sees in James, beside his “hotness”. He has the shyer, quiet vibe. Alec is more open and witty.

When I was reading this book I was 48 percent through and excited because a huge plot twist had just went down. But, apparently my PDF had two versions of the story, the same versions, just one after another. This made it 50% longer. I was upset when I realized I’d have to wait to read the second because I genuinely enjoyed Burn Out.

Finally, something I would like to address. On Goodreads, I scrolled down to see the average feelings of the reviewers and look at the synopsis before diving into the novel. A few reviews absolutely bashed Burn Out for being unrealistic. I respect their opinions, and definitely there are parts of Burn Out that don’t make much sense from a scientific standpoint, so I agree a little. However, isn’t the point of science fiction, fantasy, and dystopian YA to be unrealistic? Isn’t that what makes a book interesting, pushing the boundaries at new and unique, even if it doesn’t make complete sense? My conclusion — even if Burn Out was unrealistic, I don’t see any reason you shouldn’t read it. I enjoyed the characters and the plotline.

This novel was funny and unique. The ideas, especially for the weapons and some of the newer machinery, were very interesting. It was enjoyable as a whole, easy to read and be hooked into. It’s also a very quick book, or at least seems like it. If you’re a fan of space travel and dystopian novels than chances are, you will enjoy this to some degree. Yes, there were a few problems. The unrealistic elements, of which I have addressed already. Also, some scenes were a tad confusing and I would have to read again to fully understand. In the end, I still found this book lots of fun to read. Plus, look at the cover! It’s so bright and exciting! Little creepy, lots of color — just how I like it.

Notable Scene:

Markus watched my face, which I kept blank. Rage bubbled deep down inside but stayed buried, where emotions should stay. Rage was useless, hope only brought pain, and love ended in death.

He cleared his throat. “I think it’s safe to say the human race will continue, although I know you don’t think that’s necessarily a good thing.

FTC Advisory: Egmont USA/Random House provided me with a copy of Burn Out. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Kelsey Ketch · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, Burn Out has to be the best read of 2013, and I highly believe it will be the best debut novel of 2014 as well. It’s action-packed, mixed with the right amount of romance. And the suspense kept me reading from page one.

If you are a fan of science fiction such as Firefly, you’re going to love the plot and characters of this novel. It’s just as diverse and adventurous, yet completely unique in its own way. I never knew who to trust or who to side with. Like the main character, Tora, I basically had to trust myself and my instincts. And with the plot being so intense and the building romance, my stomach just knotted up as I continued to read. Who can I trust? Is it James? Is it Markus? And what about Kale?

Honestly, with how well James is written, I couldn’t help fall for him, even when my gut and his actions were screaming not to trust him. I was just completely sucked in by the blond medic. I so wanted to be Tora and have James wrap me in his arms and stay there for eternity. And I haven’t felt that way about a character I’ve read in a while now.

Markus was another one I had a hard time not liking because he reminded me so much of Malcolm from Firefly: both in his actions and in his character. Even when he was an arse, he was just so much fun. But the big difference between him and James was my gut so totally could NOT trust him. Period, end of sentence. No matter how sweet he smiled.

The only time I was nervous about this book taking a wrong turn was when Alec was introduced. I was so scared of a love triangle forming, something that I now feel is getting old in novels. Fortunately, I didn’t sense anything. Which was good. I don’t think I could’ve handle another love triangle. Not with my intense feeling for James.

To sum up, Burn Out is an excellent read. If you haven’t added it to your 2014 TBR lists, I highly recommend that you do. It comes out next April 8th. <3 James!

For more book reviews, you can also visit my website over at Ketch’s Book Nook. Thank you.

[Marissa DeCuir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oooooobbbssseesssseddd!!!! Seriously love this book and want to see it on the big screen. This is a brilliant, thrilling story that definitely had me surprised a few times in the book. Usually you start to have a feeling about what's going to happen, but here, I really was surprised and that is so exciting as a reader!

I love the main character - she's definitely a bad ass and if I were left on earth after the sun burned out, I'd want to be in her bunker.

The overall plot of the sun burning out and how that happened, what that resulted in on earth, and what became of human existence is fascinating. The descriptions make it feel like such a real - and scary - possibility.

And I love the messaging of the book and focus on basis human goodness.

Cannot wait for book #2 to see where this story goes!!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa--this book is, like, the definition of "page-turner." I could hardly put it down! Ms. Helvig is a master of ending chapters in just the right spots, on just the right notes, that make it pretty much essential that you dive right into the next one.

What's more, this book has an awesome concept (the sun is burning out WAY sooner than anticipated), a spunky, snarky heroine in Tora, and a cast of supporting characters for whom your trust is always shifting. Some very cool futuristic settings, too. I'll be psyched to come back to this world and learn how this story continues in the sequel!

[Araseli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book definitely it was entertaining. I love the main character so witty and a fighter. It's not that long so one can finish it in a couple of sittings and wanting more by the end of the book. Fast pace sci-fi and some action; glad I gave it a try. I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Jen McConnel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, wow. I LOVE this book. Tora is a gritty heroine who reminds me of a female Han Solo (which is incredible), and her story is filled with twists and turns that will keep you guessing. Fans of sci fi and strong characters, rejoice!

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book, Tora was such a great fantastic, sarcastic charter! And funny story, I thought that this book was double it's length-because the ARC I had 2 copies of the book in it! So ending around 250-ish, instead of 530, was something! Can't wait to read Strange Skies next week!

[praiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me so freaking thirsty, literally.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tora, 17, lives alone in an underground bunker her father made when she was a child, built on earth after a deflected asteroid managed to greatly speed up the sun's demise so the oceans, lakes, etc, have boiled off. People get water extracted from the air (absolutely no explanation is given as to why there is no underground water in wells anywhere) and have to live sheltered and protected. Her father had to leave a pod city to protect humankind from some weapons he made for his job, but as you learned from the first sentence, Tora now lives alone, and what I haven't yet said is that the rest of her family is now dead.

She is waiting for someone she knows to show up with a ship and rescue her, but when he finally comes, he's mainly after the weapons she has. They are programmed to only respond to her, so obviously he needs her to go. I will say no more, but this is an action/survival book and things do not go smoothly or well every (there is also a sequel, obviously planned for, so haven't yet read that).

There are some strong things in this book, such as how this post-apocalyptic earth has been built for a y/a audience (not perfect, but it's FICTION, so, as always, we suspend our disbelief). What I didn't find as strong was some of her character building, and given the author's PhD field, I was a bit surprised. It wasn't terrible, of course, or I'd have discarded the book, and I do have to bear in mind that this is y/a, but I still thought James not well done, nor Kale.

Overall, though, it's worth reading and given that it is a debut novel I hope that these things are better in the second book.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

*Genre* Science Fiction
*Rating* 3.0

*My Thoughts*

I am extremely confused after finishing Burn Out and I hate being confused. So, let me explain why. I requested and downloaded this copy via NetGalley to my Kindle and finally get a chance to actually sit down and read it. First there is the whole "A futuristic blend of Beth Revis's Across the Universe and Lenore Appelhans's Level 2." Well, sorry to say folks, but I have no freaking clue what the marketing department is talking about since I haven't read either book, or series for that matter, but I do enjoy Science Fiction, and thus why I was hoping for something perhaps a bit different.

Second, I am reading along as though I was "A Leaf on the Wind," (If you don't get this reference, Google it!) and all of a sudden the story comes to an complete stop at 50 percent on my Kindle with a twisty, in your face cliffhanger. 50 percent? So, according to my trusty Kindle, that is around 183 pages, NOT, the 272 that I was erroneously told by both Goodreads and Amazon! Did I perhaps get a bad copy? Perhaps, and that just plain sucks to me because there is absolutely nothing I can do about it now that it is finally out on book shelves.

As for the story itself, SEVENTEEN year old Tora Reynolds truly believes that she is the last remaining female on earth. She's been living alone in bunker like facility hiding from the Consulate ever since her father was presumed to be murdered, although we, the reader, don't really know if this is factual or not because we only get a partial glimpse at her father, mother, and sister Callie, and the Consulate itself through Tora's perspective.

What we do know is that Tora's father Micah created bio energetic weapons and the Consulate, who are presumed to be some sort of Government organization and bad guys, really, really want them in order to control the remaining population still on earth but Tora has them safely hidden away, and is the only person that can use them thanks to her father. We also know that 300 years ago, scientists caused a misdirection of a major Asteroid that, instead of colliding with the Earth, collided with the Sun instead thus causing it to expand leading to a Burn Out event sometime in the near future.

The story really gets going when Markus, who dealt with Tora's father, comes searching for the weapons along with Kale Stack, James, and Britta because they are worth a TON of money. I wouldn't say that Tora is FORCED to go along with them. I will say that I think Tora makes the choice of putting her life into the wrong people's hands in order to get off a dying Planet and find a new life for herself even if it is just for a short time. I adore Alec and his dog Lucy, and hoped that they would play more of a role in this story. I will also say that the whole insta-love romance possibility is clear, and right in your face and I'm not all that happy about it since it makes Tora look like a scrub and takes away from her overall intelligence that we've come to expect from her.

Yet, what do we really know about James, and Kale? Who are they really working for? Why would someone so strong and obviously, smart, allow herself to be put in harms way where people actually want to either kill her, or use her for their own nefarious reasoning? There are SOOOO many questions about James, and who he really is, that by the time you reach the final page in this story, you are left scratching your head, and wondering if you will continue with the series or not.

*Recvd 02/01/2014 via NetGalley/Publisher* Published: April 8th 2014 by EgmontUSA

[Farrah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrilling, action-paced, romantic, and full of secrets and betrayals, Burn Out was a fantastic YA read. I really liked this wonderful book. From the characters, to the unpredictable story, this book was amazing.

The world building was well done in this book. The whole scenario of the sun expanding ahead of schedule due to a human mistake, burning the Earth to a crisp, was well thought out, as well as the human reaction to such a catastrophe. There could have been a bit more description about the state of humans now, on the new planet, but I assume we'll be getting that in book 2. Overall, the world building was wonderful.

Tora was a great heroine. She was fiercely loyal to what she believed in and those she loved. She wasn't the kind to go out without a fight and strong enough to survive living literally all alone in a sun-scorched Earth. I really liked her. She was a total badass.

James was an interesting character. He was the kind of person who held his cards close and, therefore, kept a lot of secrets. He was surprising and, by the end of the book, I both adored him and didn't know what to think of him. He was very sweet and clever and truly adorable. But, he was also secretive and the way the book ended left me wondering who he truly was. He was an wonderful character and I really liked him.

The romance was sweet. Though it wasn't the main focus of the book, it was a major point. Tora and James were great together, both strong willed and a match for each other. Though after the way the book ended, I wonder how things will turn out for them...

The plot was well paced and I was kept interested the entire way through. My one issue with the book wasn't that I didn't like a part of it, but just that I wasn't as drawn in as I could have been. But, I definitely still liked the story. There were tons of thrills and secrets that kept me guessing. I really enjoyed the story and the ending has me curious about what will happen next. Can't wait to read book 2!

Burn Out was a fantastic YA read. I really liked this book. From the sweet romance, to the endless thrills, to the surprising secrets, this book was a truly enjoyable read. YA lovers, this is a book you won't want to miss.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burn Out was handed to me with the comment that it was a fun read. Fun it was, but also addictive and page-turning. The young adult, post-apocalyptic novel takes place years in the future, when the sun has expanded and grown closer to Earth faster than anyone had calculated. As a result, the world turned desert and water turned most precious commodity. Society’s richest were able to move to pod cities to help combat the sun’s deadly rays, while the poorest were the first to die, having to fend for themselves.

Our story begins with Tora Reynolds as the only known survivor left, everyone else having died out or fled in search of another livable planet. The catchy blurb on the cover tells us that the last girl on Earth just got company, reminiscent of the shortest horror story, “the last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door….” So it’s a fantastic way to start a novel. The company she gets is one part familiar, three parts strange and ready to kill. Tora finds herself suspiciously allied with these four companions against the government, who is eager to get at the unknown, yet destructive weapons invented by her father before his death.

The story is fast paced with lots of action and chapter-ending cliffhangers. The characters both entertain and surprise you. And the light romance between Tora and one of her new companions is sweet and elevates the story to another level. I was reminded of Divergent because of the strong and spunky lead heroine and because of the dystopian elements present in the corrupt government. Readers will be reminded of Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, given the similar apocalyptic plots. However, in my opinion, Burn Out is far more entertaining.

Overall, Burn Out is great if you’re looking for something quick, yet captivating to read. It leaves you wanting more and draws you so much into its post-apocalyptic, water drenched world, you’ll need a drink nearby to quench your imagined thirst.

[Saoirse · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 34%

Burn Out started out great. It had this intense sci-fi feel to it that really brings out the color in the book. The concept was also nice, adding the originality to a plus bonus. I actually like how it was going, how adventurous this could lead but 10% in and the MC, Tora, started to sound all bitchy, annoying and plainly dumb. Clearly. I can't stand how she manages to survive in that shit-hole when she's got nothing but a dung beetle inside her head. I swear that the moment that she refuse to accept any help, I'm going to strangle her and beat her to death. Ugh. USELESS.

I might have mentioned in my previous statement that this was likely similar to Beth Revis' Across the Universe but boy, was I totally wrong. This had nothing to compare with AtU even for a fact that they are both science fiction. The writing style wasn't in it for me, the character's were too hormonal *wink wink* Markus and Britta *wink wink* bland and boring and it's like they were just there because they had to be there. Which just sucked plainly.

I was surprised this got good ratings. It makes me wonder if I'm still reading the same book as everyone's. I'm feeling sick these days and exams are mocking me so I'm not sure if this is just me, being rational that I wasn't "into" this while reading or if this just plainly sucks.

[Sophi Frost · Rating 5 out of 5]

To sum up how I felt about this book, I can only say - where's the sequel, Kristi?
I am very impressed with the world that Kristi Helvig built, and all the devices that were required to maintain life. I fell in love with Tora's backstory, and personally a well built back story truly is the core of a book. I felt like I knew her family and admired her father and his attempt to prevent his inventions from falling into the wrong hands.
The character development was amazing. Tora is kick butt and vulnerable. James is a man of mystery and a hunk, but I am not sure how I feel about him. Markus reminds me of Han Solo from Star Wars or Malcolm Reynolds from Fire Fly. I was nervous about the introduction of Alec so late in the book, but with Lucy tagging along - you just knew he was a sweet guy. That leaves Kale and he is seems to be shaping up into a perfect villain.
This is a great read. Thank you, Kristi Helvig!

[Kristen Lippert-Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As suspected, this book was awesome. Shifting alliances and desperate circumstances make for an unpredictable, harrowing adventure. Mystery, hidden family secrets, overwhelming odds! This story has got it all. Tora doesn't know who to trust and at the end of this book, I don't know either but I have to find out!

Book 2, I am Edward and you are my Bella. I'm watching you sleep.

[AlbertaJenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a bookseller, I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from the publisher.

If you loved the Hunger Games, add this book to your To-Read list! This series is going to be HOT!

l loved Tora, the main character; she is smart and sarcastic. Although she faces insurmountable odds, she does so with great bravery.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Burn Out by Kristi Helvig
Book One of an untitled series
Publisher: Egmont
Publication Date: April 8, 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

A futuristic blend of Beth Revis's Across the Universe and Lenore Appelhans's Level 2, Burn Out will satisfy the growing desire for science fiction with a thrilling story of survival, intrigue, and adventure.

Most people want to save the world; seventeen-year-old Tora Reynolds just wants to get the hell off of it. One of the last survivors in Earth's final years, Tora yearns to escape the wasteland her planet has become after the sun turns "red giant," but discovers her fellow survivors are even more deadly than the hostile environment.

Holed up in an underground shelter, Tora is alone--her brilliant scientist father murdered, her mother and sister burned to death. She dreams of living on a planet with oceans, plants, and animals. Unfortunately, the oceans dried out ages ago, the only plants are giant cacti with deadly spines, and her pet, Trigger, is a gun--one of the bio-energetic weapons her father created for the government before his conscience kicked in.

When family friend, Markus, arrives with mercenaries to take the weapons by force, Tora's fury turns to fear when government ships descend in an attempt to kill them all. She forges an unlikely alliance with Markus and his rag-tag group of raiders, including a smart but quiet soldier named James.

She is shocked when James accidentally fires one of her father's bio-weapons--weapons designed to work only for her. She'd felt a strange pull to James from the start, but the odds of someone sharing her energy vibration are statistically minuscule. Tora must quickly figure out who she can trust, as she must choose between saving herself by giving up the guns or honoring her father's request to save humanity from the most lethal weapons in existence.

What I Liked:

I'm going to be brutally honest - ready for it? Well. I've had an ARC of this book since late JULY, you all. July 2013. I got an ARC from Egmont (thank you to both Egmont AND Kristi, who put in a good word for me), and I believe I was the first blogger to get an ARC. I knew I wasn't going to review this book until closer to the release date, but I wanted so badly to read it. Of course, right about that time, freshman year at Johns Hopkins hit me upside the head, and that's that.

So, I FINALLY read Burn Out, and I'm reviewing it, yay! I enjoyed this book, and while I had a few complaints, my overall impression was very positive! I'm quite happy with this debut, and will definitely be continuing the series. The story was pretty great, the characters were likable, and the science fiction was awesome!

Tora is alone on Earth. She's in an underground bunker that her scientist father built and moved her and her family into when he betrayed the government. You see, he built weapons for the government, really high-tech, highly destructive weapons, but he realized that it was too dangerous to give them to the government. So he took them and his family, and hid everything in the underground bunker. And then the sun starting expanding, and life on Earth basically ended. Tora's father's friend, Markus, comes back to Earth, and wants the weapons, which he'll give to the highest bidder. Things go pretty far downhill from there. Tora joins Markus and his group, with the weapons, and attempt to run from the government.

Not much happens in this book, to be honest, but I enjoyed what DID happen. Markus comes in search for the weapons. He leaves, and brings his thug friends back. Tora is forced to go with them, because the government shows up as well. The group gets away from the bunker, but they have to go back to get the supplies. Things get messy after that. I can't/won't tell you specifically, but betrayals run rampant in this book.

So the plot was pretty decent. I was never bored, and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. The writing style wasn't anything special, but it kept the flow of the story going, and it wasn't a hindrance. There is definitely a bit of mystery in this book, as to Tora's past, the colonized planet Caelia, and soon. I liked this! But I hope things will be revealed.

The characters - I think I like most of them. At least, the ones that should be liked. Tora is very spunky and feisty, and I think it definitely fit her well. There are some inconsistencies in her character, in my opinion, but I liked her. Britta is probably the character with the most personality. She is extremely honest, and she lets everyone know her opinion of them. Kale was kind of one-dimensional to me, until the last part of the book, at least. Markus - well, I always liked him, even from the beginning. In the end, I felt really bad for him. James is tricky. I think I like him, yet I don't. It's not enough for Tora to like him for me to like him. He is shrouded in mystery and secrets, and I want to know more - but not necessarily because I like him. Alec joins us late in the game, and I REALLY like him.

So... romance? The entire book pushes us towards Tora and James. Heck, Tora's mindset pushes readers towards liking James, because she is definitely attracted to him, and she likes him. I'm not a huge fan of James, but really because I need to know more about him, and his motives. This book has no love triangle featured, but I could see how the author could slip one in. Please don't. ***Edited to add: the author personally told me that the series will not include a love triangle. WOOHOO FOR THAT!***

The science fiction in this book is pretty cool. The weapons themselves are awesome - they can only be used by Tora, because the weapons are programmed to her vibrations. So, only someone with EXACTLY her vibration patterns could use the weapons. Which is pretty much impossible. That's so much more secure than a fingerprint or something. The bunker is filled with all kinds of neat science-y tech, like the manner in which to get water (W.A.R.). And of course, this entire book is built on a catastrophic natural occurrence that mankind tried to divert. Apparently, humans shot an asteroid off course (it was heading towards Earth), but it went towards the sun. It had a lot of dark matter, and so when it went towards the sun, it caused the sun to expand (I can't remember the exact logistics, but I remember thinking that it was fascinating).

Have I convinced you yet? If you're into science fiction, you definitely do NOT want to miss this book. If you aren't a science fiction person, you should still check out this book, but don't get super excited like it's going to be the next big thing (that would be cool though). I'm glad I had the opportunity to read and review this book!

What I Did Not Like:

I think the only thing that really bothered me was the amount of questions I had, by the end of the book. They started about halfway though the book, and kept adding, right until the end. I'm a little confused about the end. Okay, so, two things - the questions, and a sub-dislike - the end.

But seriously though. I'm confused as to why Tora didn't keep vigilant the entire time. She let her guard down so often, which is kind of ridiculous, if she's supposed to be this kickbutt, non-trusting girl. Which she is, but I feel like she trusted Kale, Britta, and James too easily. I could understand why she would let her guard down around Markus - she was the most familiar with him, since she knew him from before - but not the others.

Also, towards the end, why didn't she just blast everyone? The TO does a really good job of getting rid of threats... so use it. Or something. I feel like there were a lot of times when Tora could have attacked, or threatened her enemies/captors with the TO, or have done SOMETHING, but she was caught too easily, or didn't fight back. Which doesn't make sense, with her personality. She isn't necessarily known for her brilliance, she's known for her spunky tenacity. So, the instinct to fight back should have won, all those times.

And the end. I'm confused. How did anyone survive? Isn't that one weapon supposed to destroy everything within a twenty-mile radius? EVERYTHING? Including ships and stuff? I'm confused as to how certain ships and PEOPLE survived. And I'm not talking about Tora herself.

But I'm hoping that things get cleared up in book two (or three, or one of the next books in the series).

Would I Recommend It:

To all the science fiction fans out there - especially the ones who LOVE space-related fiction, this one is not to be missed! The comparisons (Across the Universe and Level 2) are quite prestigious, and on point, if I may say so. Although I have not read Level 2 yet. I love my science fiction, and especially the futuristic space-related science fiction (Star Wars!), so this book was right up my alley. And it was fabulous!

Rating:

3.5 stars -> rounded up to 4 stars. This book intrigued me! I cannot wait to read the subsequent novels in the series. Hopefully, all of my questions will be answered.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I randomly came across the book along with its sequel at my local library and thought why not. I'm so glad I decided to read them. I couldn't wait to see how everything unfolded.

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give this zero stars I would! I truly felt like this book was a total waste of my time and I've read some pretty bad books...

Tora was a major problem for me. She was majorly stupid and made stupid choices. #1 - If someone knocks and you suspect they are up to no good...DON'T OPEN THE DOOR! And definitely don't leave safety!! #2 - Don't tell enemies and people you don't trust valuable information!! If you have to - LIE!! This is about weighing your choices and choosing the less horrible of the two.

Take this quote for instance: Putting my trust in James would make me just as dumb. I couldn’t let him get to me no matter how amazing his abs were. Still, that sadness in his eyes— If you want to follow your gut and trust in someone then take that leap of trust, but then don't try to obstruct that person by going off half cocked!! Take your p's and q's from their actions... Tora never made any assumptions about James actions even after he shared with her his past. This girl is the daughter of a super creative scientist and technology creator yet she had no reasoning skills and zero good judgment! Woman are the king of assumers especially about their men! So please at least draw some conclusions due to the discrepancy between what he tells you when you are alone and what he does in front of witnesses. Just. Get. A. Clue.

The characters all acted like they already knew the ending of the story!! For example if Tora really didn't want the guns falling into the government's hands and she really believed she was the only one who can fire them and she really thought there was no way off the planet then she would have killed herself. Especially someone with a family history of suicide. Yet somehow our "feisty" Tora knew she'd end up off planet... Hmm who could have alerted her to the fact suicide wasn't necessary... only the author! For the first half of the book I was wondering why Tora didn't off herself and grew depressed every time we stopped for another info dump!

I really hated the love / hate thing Tora had going on with Britta and Markus. If I was protecting a load of guns that people would kill me to get I would have shot both of them myself! There are no second chances in dysopian land! The fact Tora didn't seem to say she knew ahead of time that she'd need allies and even an amoral ally is better than no ally... Alec is a sweet cardboard character but no better than James in the romance department. In fact the romance is a joke in this book. Neither man steps up with any actions that would kindle trust or a bond. Kale felt like a cardboard villain that conveniently tried to kill Tora when we needed to create a moment for Tora to be badass... It was boring and so obvious.

Of course, none of the science made a lick of sense. Now I can suspend belief to a point but aspect after aspect of this book was not just nonsensical but totally crazy! #1 - You can't sweat a drop and only be drinking 1 cup of water a day. #2 - The whole dark matter and moon sized asteroid are so outrageous that I don't even think I need to go into how stupid this is! #3 - The water on the entire planet boiling into the air and yet huge cacti are sweeping over the land... hmm, no. #4 - what happened to the atmosphere that there is no oxygen anymore? What about all the cacti? And how does the water molecules stay on the surface of the planet without it? Yeah, none of it makes a lick of sense, its not even presented in a way for me to believe it at all! This is a comment I made while reading the book: "So yeah dark matter and a moon sized asteroid, wow... Crazy stupid... Not sure what I'm expected to feel?" So yeah, I never for one second could suspend disbelief for any of this mess! Really though, bad science was the least of the problems. Worse was crazy stupid Tora, asinine romantic James, caricature secondary characters and random plot that slipped and slide all over the place. Nothing much happened. Ugh.

BOTTOM LINE: Stupid Girl, Boring Story = Waste! Of! Your! Time!

[Alicia Batista (Addicted Readers) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 3.75 Stars

Okay, let me start by saying BURN OUT was NOTHING like I thought it was going to be at all! But I still really enjoyed it, a lot! I went into BURN OUT thinking it was going to be something totally different then what it was. But I was pleasantly surprised that even though it wasn't what I excepted it to be, it was still pretty terrific!

That being said, I still did have a couple issues with BURN OUT. The first issue was that they're was a lot going on and a ton of secrets being kept from everyone, and no where near enough answers revealed. I felt the book could of been longer and add more to the story and it would of easily of made my rating a 4 or even a 4.5. It ended abruptly, with hardly any explanation to what the hectic was going on, and who could be trusted and who couldn't. Because they're was some surprising events that unfold in this novel, but when you get to the end, you still don't know why they happened, or who is the "Good guy & the Bad guy" so to speak. So if it would of explained more of the reasoning behind some of the events in the main plot, and if I was able to get a better feel of who I should like and who I should hate, then it would of probably turned out to be at least a 4 star review for me!

On a better note... Kristi Helvig has crafted one girls fight to honor her fathers last wish, and to save humanity from suffering the same horrible fate her father did by the corrupt government, and to try and stay true to herself, while getting the hell off the giant sun drenched fire-ball planet called earth...alive!

THE PLOT...

Tora has been confined to her family's secluded underground bunker, hiding from both the Consulate, the corrupt government her father worked for and deceived, and the vicious, lethal sun that will cook you faster then a oven, for so long she can't even remember! Both her mother and little sister died while the sun cooked them from the outside in, and turned them into a pile of ash. Her father went back to try and reason with the Consulate about the guns he created, and he never returned. So Tora has come to terms that he is most likely dead. She's also faced the facts that she will probably die in that bunker, because no one is coming for her, because she is the last person left on earth, or so she thought....

An old family friend Markus, has come back for her as promised. But it's not just her he's come for. He wants the guns that her father created and risked his life to hide, and Markus wants them all! But Tora can not, and will not, hand them over to Markus, or anyone else! These guns were the last thing her father tried to hide and ultimately died for. Markus wants to sell them and become rich on Caelia, the new plant that the government and some of the upper class citizens have made it too. But if Markus gets the guns then they will definitely fall into the wrong hands, and everything her father fought for and ultimately died for, would of been for nothing!

Tora will have to decide just how far she's willing to go to keep what her father worked so hard to conceal out of the hands of the corrupt government. And if it's really even worth fighting for, and ultimately worth dying for!

Overall, BURN OUT was an intensely hot book, that kept me on my toes, second guessing everything I once thought, as shocking events unfolded, and had me craving more of the sun scorched world that Kristi Helvig created! I will definitely be picking up the next book with eager hands, because I just HAVE to know what's coming next!

NOTE: I received an eARC copy for reviewing purposes! All opinions express are my own, and are not influenced in any way!