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Chloe's Kingdom: The Koin Vault Heist
Six Motivated Thieves. One Deadly Heist.
Chloe Espinoza is a wild-haired petty thief aboard the Kingdom, a drifting city spaceship. Once rich but now poor, Chloe is determined to break free from the Honeycombs and return to her life in the Gardens. Only one problem: she hardly has enough koin for a burrito, making a lavish apartment seem as distant as the stars. All that might change, however, when Chloe is offered a heist that could make her unimaginably rich. But she can’t break into the impenetrable Koin Vault alone…
A young mastermind who can’t let go of her past.
A mathematical genius in desperate need of koin.
A privileged kid from the Gardens with a debt to pay.
A bartender who’s serving revenge.
A mischievous raccoon with a bottomless appetite.
A battered soul who’s been wronged by the council.
Gone are the days of stealing snacks. Chloe’s crew is aiming for the ultimate the Koin Vault. Their plan? To rob the Treasury and bring down the corrupt council. But in a game where the stakes are jail or death, every move could be their last.
A thrilling Young Adult Science Fiction Heist novel set in the unforgiving void of outer space, perfect for fans of 'Six of Crows' by Leigh Bardugo and 'Artemis' by Andy Weir.
Chloe Espinoza is a wild-haired petty thief aboard the Kingdom, a drifting city spaceship. Once rich but now poor, Chloe is determined to break free from the Honeycombs and return to her life in the Gardens. Only one problem: she hardly has enough koin for a burrito, making a lavish apartment seem as distant as the stars. All that might change, however, when Chloe is offered a heist that could make her unimaginably rich. But she can’t break into the impenetrable Koin Vault alone…
A young mastermind who can’t let go of her past.
A mathematical genius in desperate need of koin.
A privileged kid from the Gardens with a debt to pay.
A bartender who’s serving revenge.
A mischievous raccoon with a bottomless appetite.
A battered soul who’s been wronged by the council.
Gone are the days of stealing snacks. Chloe’s crew is aiming for the ultimate the Koin Vault. Their plan? To rob the Treasury and bring down the corrupt council. But in a game where the stakes are jail or death, every move could be their last.
A thrilling Young Adult Science Fiction Heist novel set in the unforgiving void of outer space, perfect for fans of 'Six of Crows' by Leigh Bardugo and 'Artemis' by Andy Weir.
- GenresScience Fiction
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2024
28 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Michael
15 books11 followersGregory Michael, a tenured cyber security advisor, has always been captivated by the boundless possibilities of science fiction. With a life long habit of immersing himself in stories, he has dedicated over 10,000 hours to exploring worlds found in books, television, and movies. Now, he embarks on a new journey to share his own imaginative universe, debuting with his first young adult, science fiction, heist novel.
Gregory Michael resides in Arizona with his wife, daughter, and two dogs. He enjoys tennis and golf in his spare time, but above all, a good book to read.
Gregory Michael resides in Arizona with his wife, daughter, and two dogs. He enjoys tennis and golf in his spare time, but above all, a good book to read.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 24, 2024
A well-written and all-around fun YA heist debut!
Chloe's Kingdom is a great start to what I believe will be a fantastic sci-fi/space opera series. Following a young team of 'thieves' from all walks of life, we navigate the space station that is their home and the many different factions and rules that fill it. From start to finish, our young friends are forced to grow up very quickly, and the amazing ending to this book promises a much grander picture than the communal station they are led to believe encompasses humanity.
This book has some very short chapters. Admittedly, that was a bit jarring to me and took some time to get used to, but once I did, I really flew through the story. I think I absorbed the back half in a twenty-four-hour span.
Each character is unique. The setting, while futuristic, is very relatable to our current world structure. There are intense action sequences, and while I do wish they came slightly sooner and were more in number, the amazingness we did get has me very excited for the sequel, which something tells me will satisfy my wish for more. Oh, and the ending was stellar. I thought I had an idea of how it would go. I was wrong. In a good way.
If you like the idea of a sci-fi heist story, aboard a communal space station in the distant future, with a diverse group of well-rounded younger characters and a little racoon furball friend, go read this now. I highly doubt you'll be disappointed.
Chloe's Kingdom is a great start to what I believe will be a fantastic sci-fi/space opera series. Following a young team of 'thieves' from all walks of life, we navigate the space station that is their home and the many different factions and rules that fill it. From start to finish, our young friends are forced to grow up very quickly, and the amazing ending to this book promises a much grander picture than the communal station they are led to believe encompasses humanity.
This book has some very short chapters. Admittedly, that was a bit jarring to me and took some time to get used to, but once I did, I really flew through the story. I think I absorbed the back half in a twenty-four-hour span.
Each character is unique. The setting, while futuristic, is very relatable to our current world structure. There are intense action sequences, and while I do wish they came slightly sooner and were more in number, the amazingness we did get has me very excited for the sequel, which something tells me will satisfy my wish for more. Oh, and the ending was stellar. I thought I had an idea of how it would go. I was wrong. In a good way.
If you like the idea of a sci-fi heist story, aboard a communal space station in the distant future, with a diverse group of well-rounded younger characters and a little racoon furball friend, go read this now. I highly doubt you'll be disappointed.
July 6, 2025
Chloe's Kingdom is a perfect blend of YA, Sci-Fi, and Heist stories. It fits each category well and fans of each will have something to enjoy here.
The YA elements definitely hinted at a dystopian society on the ship, without it being as pronounced as some YA fiction. The main characters didn't particularly have the voice cadence of teenagers the whole time, but they also make a lot of decisions that teenagers might, especially in a society like the one in the book.
The Sci-Fi elements about the ship being adrift in space and how the ship was set up was fascinating. I enjoyed the EVA moments, the one in the middle of the book with Dutch which was particularly powerful.
The Heist elements were what made the book though. The Food Heists at the beginning of the book were fun (cue Dan Wells since I said "food heist"), but the Main Heist of the story, which takes place in the middle/second half of the book, was a lot of fun. I liked the way Gregory Michael established what would need to happen and each character's job ahead of time, and then proceeded to show it not go according to plan.
A criticism I have is that I think some of the character motivations for some characters did not entirely make sense, particularly for some of the villains in the book. I think the book could have been improved significantly by adding a few more quick chapters from their perspective.
Another minor critique I have (not on the story's quality or the writing, so its not affecting the rating), is that this book is not formatted or designed at all like a YA book, and I believe that might be slightly offputting to regular readers of YA.
Overall, I did quite enjoy this book, and look forward to reading more from Gregory Michael in the future. 8 out of 10.
The YA elements definitely hinted at a dystopian society on the ship, without it being as pronounced as some YA fiction. The main characters didn't particularly have the voice cadence of teenagers the whole time, but they also make a lot of decisions that teenagers might, especially in a society like the one in the book.
The Sci-Fi elements about the ship being adrift in space and how the ship was set up was fascinating. I enjoyed the EVA moments, the one in the middle of the book with Dutch which was particularly powerful.
The Heist elements were what made the book though. The Food Heists at the beginning of the book were fun (cue Dan Wells since I said "food heist"), but the Main Heist of the story, which takes place in the middle/second half of the book, was a lot of fun. I liked the way Gregory Michael established what would need to happen and each character's job ahead of time, and then proceeded to show it not go according to plan.
A criticism I have is that I think some of the character motivations for some characters did not entirely make sense, particularly for some of the villains in the book. I think the book could have been improved significantly by adding a few more quick chapters from their perspective.
Another minor critique I have (not on the story's quality or the writing, so its not affecting the rating), is that this book is not formatted or designed at all like a YA book, and I believe that might be slightly offputting to regular readers of YA.
Overall, I did quite enjoy this book, and look forward to reading more from Gregory Michael in the future. 8 out of 10.
November 25, 2024
I read this book as a judge for SPSFC. My full review will come out first on www.sffinsiders.com.
I really enjoyed this story and am excited to share it with my kids. Who doesn't want a YA heist?!
I really enjoyed this story and am excited to share it with my kids. Who doesn't want a YA heist?!
August 5, 2024
This was an absolute blast to read! The pacing was fast, but not so much to lose any details or plot building. I really enjoyed the different POVs and short chapters. It kept things fresh and made it super easy to binge this. The characters were really well done. Sometimes, you didn't know what they were really up to. And the twists! The last half of the book had me guessing as to what's happening next. There were some very unexpected things that took place and some sacrifices/heartbreak that hit the feels. I really enjoyed this a ton. And I can't wait to see what's next for Chloe and Mojito!
October 13, 2025
Chloe's Kingdom by Gregory Michael reignited my love for reading science fiction again. This book gets a well-deserved 5 stars. I’m a sucker for a good heist and Chloe’s Kingdom delivers. The heist reminded me a bit of Starfield with high stakes, unexpected turns, and that sense of exploring something bigger than yourself. If there’s a flaw, it’s that the broader universe feels tantalizingly underexplored, leaving me hungry for more in the sequel.
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December 2, 2024
This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders. This was read for SPSFC 4 purposes and the score will be updated after the first round.
I would like to file a motion that all heist stories henceforth feature a very hungry pet raccoon.
A good heist story is always a sum of three parts: the building of the team, the execution of the plot, and the fallout from the heist, whether good or bad. In Chloe’s Kingdom, Gregory Michael absolutely nails the first two parts of the task, featuring eclectic and motivated characters, a wealth of tension, and a thrilling ride filled with twists and turns. It’d be a strong contender for one of my favorite reads of the year…if not for a rough landing at the end.
Chloe is a small-time thief in the Honeycombs district of the city spaceship known as the Kingdom. Once a child of privilege from the rich Gardens district, she has been reduced to poverty after her parents’ untimely deaths, stealing protein bars from the nearby bodega with her friend Penny. The dream of returning to her life in the Gardens becomes closer to a reality when the score of a lifetime is presented to her: robbing the impenetrable vault of the Kingdom’s koin. If Chloe and her crew can pull it off and bring down the Kingdom’s corrupt council, they’ll be rich beyond their wildest imaginations. But if they fail, the consequences will be all too dire. Also there’s a raccoon named Mojito and I love him.
The setup for Chloe’s Kingdom is simple enough: rob the vault, walk away rich. But for such a simple and well-worn concept, Michael pulls it off extremely well. It starts with the cast of characters, all of whom have well-realized motivations to see this heist work out. The stars of the show are our two leads, Chloe and Penny. Where Chloe wants to return to her life in the Gardens and own a lavish apartment with a freezer filled with burritos (which seems to be one of the only two sources of food in the Kingdom, along with protein bars), Penny is on the brink of financial ruin when her mother is victim to a devastating workplace accident. The crew they assemble along the way is motivated by debts to pay or vengeful desires, and they all balance each other out well with multi-dimensional relationships and fun banter. It’s a good crew.
The buildup to the heist, and the heist itself, are all set up and put down perfectly. The stakes are laid out, the consequences of success or failure are clear, and there is a tension that grips you and pulls you forward, eager to see how it all shakes out. Everyone has well-realized specialties, from Chloe’s preparedness to Penny’s mathematical genius to Dutch’s triumph over his PTSD. And when the heist kicks off in earnest, it’s a blast to read through, a white-knuckled pulse-pounding read that has you cheering and bracing all at once.
Which is why the third act’s faltering is all the rougher to read through. There are some shocking and well-executed twists, but so much of where Chloe’s Kingdom falls for me is in the reveal of the main antagonist, who, in a story with multi-dimensional characters and plotting, comes off as woefully cartoonish to the point that a dastardly twirling mustache wouldn’t have been out of place. And in a book that’s fast-paced enough already, the pace kicks into overdrive over the last 20% until it’s brought to a screeching halt with barely the time to breathe. It’s a shame, because the first 70 to 80% of Chloe’s Kingdom is brilliant, but I thought it just couldn’t stick the landing.
I’d still highly recommend giving Chloe’s Kingdom a read, though. It remains a really fun heist story with lots of heart and fun, twists and turns, thrills and chills, and the best boy of a raccoon. It’s unfortunately just brought down by a less-than-stellar ending that sets up a sequel, but didn’t quite land this book as well as I’m sure the author hoped.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m busy googling where to adopt my local trash panda. I’ve already decided to name him Whiskey Sour.
I would like to file a motion that all heist stories henceforth feature a very hungry pet raccoon.
A good heist story is always a sum of three parts: the building of the team, the execution of the plot, and the fallout from the heist, whether good or bad. In Chloe’s Kingdom, Gregory Michael absolutely nails the first two parts of the task, featuring eclectic and motivated characters, a wealth of tension, and a thrilling ride filled with twists and turns. It’d be a strong contender for one of my favorite reads of the year…if not for a rough landing at the end.
Chloe is a small-time thief in the Honeycombs district of the city spaceship known as the Kingdom. Once a child of privilege from the rich Gardens district, she has been reduced to poverty after her parents’ untimely deaths, stealing protein bars from the nearby bodega with her friend Penny. The dream of returning to her life in the Gardens becomes closer to a reality when the score of a lifetime is presented to her: robbing the impenetrable vault of the Kingdom’s koin. If Chloe and her crew can pull it off and bring down the Kingdom’s corrupt council, they’ll be rich beyond their wildest imaginations. But if they fail, the consequences will be all too dire. Also there’s a raccoon named Mojito and I love him.
The setup for Chloe’s Kingdom is simple enough: rob the vault, walk away rich. But for such a simple and well-worn concept, Michael pulls it off extremely well. It starts with the cast of characters, all of whom have well-realized motivations to see this heist work out. The stars of the show are our two leads, Chloe and Penny. Where Chloe wants to return to her life in the Gardens and own a lavish apartment with a freezer filled with burritos (which seems to be one of the only two sources of food in the Kingdom, along with protein bars), Penny is on the brink of financial ruin when her mother is victim to a devastating workplace accident. The crew they assemble along the way is motivated by debts to pay or vengeful desires, and they all balance each other out well with multi-dimensional relationships and fun banter. It’s a good crew.
The buildup to the heist, and the heist itself, are all set up and put down perfectly. The stakes are laid out, the consequences of success or failure are clear, and there is a tension that grips you and pulls you forward, eager to see how it all shakes out. Everyone has well-realized specialties, from Chloe’s preparedness to Penny’s mathematical genius to Dutch’s triumph over his PTSD. And when the heist kicks off in earnest, it’s a blast to read through, a white-knuckled pulse-pounding read that has you cheering and bracing all at once.
Which is why the third act’s faltering is all the rougher to read through. There are some shocking and well-executed twists, but so much of where Chloe’s Kingdom falls for me is in the reveal of the main antagonist, who, in a story with multi-dimensional characters and plotting, comes off as woefully cartoonish to the point that a dastardly twirling mustache wouldn’t have been out of place. And in a book that’s fast-paced enough already, the pace kicks into overdrive over the last 20% until it’s brought to a screeching halt with barely the time to breathe. It’s a shame, because the first 70 to 80% of Chloe’s Kingdom is brilliant, but I thought it just couldn’t stick the landing.
I’d still highly recommend giving Chloe’s Kingdom a read, though. It remains a really fun heist story with lots of heart and fun, twists and turns, thrills and chills, and the best boy of a raccoon. It’s unfortunately just brought down by a less-than-stellar ending that sets up a sequel, but didn’t quite land this book as well as I’m sure the author hoped.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m busy googling where to adopt my local trash panda. I’ve already decided to name him Whiskey Sour.
March 4, 2025
Gotta say the beginning had me a little concerned as I am not the type to enjoy stories with early teen protagonists, but the final third really set up an interesting premise for the story going forward.
I believe this could be a great novel for the YA market and those sensitive to more coarse adult themes in many other novels. The set up introduced in the end could introduce the readers into more complex stories, which is where I could see this novel excelling in getting more readers into the genre.
I believe this could be a great novel for the YA market and those sensitive to more coarse adult themes in many other novels. The set up introduced in the end could introduce the readers into more complex stories, which is where I could see this novel excelling in getting more readers into the genre.
October 4, 2025
A sci-fi space heist? Strap me in, I’m there!
This book is marketed as young adult and even though I’m anything but young, I still really enjoyed it. It was light hearted at times, so it was the perfect book to break up some of the heavier things I’ve been reading lately. That’s not to say Chloe’s Kingdom doesn’t throw in a few twists and turns along the way.
I liked Michael’s writing style. There were no huge info dumps at start and the book wasn’t overloaded with exposition. Michael trusted readers and went straight into the action, building up the world as the story went along.
I’m looking forward to getting started on the sequel soon.
Lastly, let’s not forget, one of the main characters is a raccoon🦝
This book is marketed as young adult and even though I’m anything but young, I still really enjoyed it. It was light hearted at times, so it was the perfect book to break up some of the heavier things I’ve been reading lately. That’s not to say Chloe’s Kingdom doesn’t throw in a few twists and turns along the way.
I liked Michael’s writing style. There were no huge info dumps at start and the book wasn’t overloaded with exposition. Michael trusted readers and went straight into the action, building up the world as the story went along.
I’m looking forward to getting started on the sequel soon.
Lastly, let’s not forget, one of the main characters is a raccoon🦝
March 29, 2024
Very fast paced with a bunch of twists I didn’t see coming! Short chapters were nice. Excited for the second to come out…
August 26, 2025
Fast-paced, futuristic, and full of quirky charm—this YA space-heist takes you on a fun ride through gadgets, friendships, and galactic trouble.
It doesn’t dive too deep emotionally, and the character arcs could use more weight but the vibrant world and solid pacing make it a great read for fans of Heists and the Sci Fi genre. This is aimed at younger readers, and it leans heavily into YA voice and tone. If you’re looking for a fun, cinematic sci-fi with light moral tension and a lovable raccoon sidekick, you’ll definitely enjoy this one! RSQ Score: 7/10
Full Spoiler Review Below!
(Category Breakdown – RSQ Score: 7/10)
It doesn’t dive too deep emotionally, and the character arcs could use more weight but the vibrant world and solid pacing make it a great read for fans of Heists and the Sci Fi genre. This is aimed at younger readers, and it leans heavily into YA voice and tone. If you’re looking for a fun, cinematic sci-fi with light moral tension and a lovable raccoon sidekick, you’ll definitely enjoy this one! RSQ Score: 7/10
Full Spoiler Review Below!
(Category Breakdown – RSQ Score: 7/10)
September 7, 2025
Rock-Solid Sci-Fi Thrills
This is a fantastic read! Author Gregory Michael does a wonderful job of building characters, setting, and story in an engaging way and that sets the stage for a fun-filled space caper. The story follows young Chloe, her pet racoon, and her tight-knit circle of friends carving a life for themselves in a monstrous space habitat that had long since departed Earth – a life that consists partly of pilfering food to supplement their somewhat subsistent lifestyle in a world burdened with class oppression. When an opportunity presents itself for the score of a lifetime, Chloe and her friends become entrenched in a dangerous endeavor with ultimate stakes. This story strikes a perfect balance of crafting a hard sci-fi environment while avoiding being cold and aloof by giving the reader familiar trappings of bodegas, burritos, and banter. If I had one contention, it's that I didn't quite get a strong dystopian vibe...the world was populated with folks carving out a living in different ways, just like in life today. Without that, there's a bit of lessening in the overall tension. There’s an enjoyable cast of characters and the author deftly gives each ‘protagonist’ equal footing and depth to fuel the story with color and interest. I use the term ‘protagonist’ a bit freely…these are thieves, admittedly, and while their motives and actions might be deemed justifiable in the context of the story, part of me was wondering if I was indeed supposed to be rooting for these characters to succeed or instead encounter some deeper arc. Because of that, the story (for me) took on a bit of ‘Lord of the Flies’ gravitas, leaving me wondering when the adults were going to show up and put an end to these growing shenanigans. That being said, some wonderful character arcs do occur and set the stage for a rewarding climactic encounter that leaves the reader hooked for more thrills and excitement. Looking forward to the next installment of Chloe’s adventures!
This is a fantastic read! Author Gregory Michael does a wonderful job of building characters, setting, and story in an engaging way and that sets the stage for a fun-filled space caper. The story follows young Chloe, her pet racoon, and her tight-knit circle of friends carving a life for themselves in a monstrous space habitat that had long since departed Earth – a life that consists partly of pilfering food to supplement their somewhat subsistent lifestyle in a world burdened with class oppression. When an opportunity presents itself for the score of a lifetime, Chloe and her friends become entrenched in a dangerous endeavor with ultimate stakes. This story strikes a perfect balance of crafting a hard sci-fi environment while avoiding being cold and aloof by giving the reader familiar trappings of bodegas, burritos, and banter. If I had one contention, it's that I didn't quite get a strong dystopian vibe...the world was populated with folks carving out a living in different ways, just like in life today. Without that, there's a bit of lessening in the overall tension. There’s an enjoyable cast of characters and the author deftly gives each ‘protagonist’ equal footing and depth to fuel the story with color and interest. I use the term ‘protagonist’ a bit freely…these are thieves, admittedly, and while their motives and actions might be deemed justifiable in the context of the story, part of me was wondering if I was indeed supposed to be rooting for these characters to succeed or instead encounter some deeper arc. Because of that, the story (for me) took on a bit of ‘Lord of the Flies’ gravitas, leaving me wondering when the adults were going to show up and put an end to these growing shenanigans. That being said, some wonderful character arcs do occur and set the stage for a rewarding climactic encounter that leaves the reader hooked for more thrills and excitement. Looking forward to the next installment of Chloe’s adventures!
December 9, 2024
Review posted on https://www.sffinsiders.com/blog/revi...
“Just because someone is bigger than you doesn’t mean you can’t stand up to them.”
Such a great and important quote, just shows that these characters are inherently good, and are robbing a bank, but they are doing it because they NEED TO DO IT.
Very grateful to the author for reaching out with his YA Sci-Fi / Fantasy Heist! What a fun story! A young group of misfit thief's band together to pull off the ultimate heist! Starting with a smaller successful heist at the beginning I really was reminded of Six of Crows!
The pace was fast, and the tone was light!
“Always have a failsafe.”
The characters were sweet, and we ended up with a few extra points of view characters that I was not expecting!
“A successful thief operates undetected, like a ghost in the night.”
I think the action in the story was done with the appropriate pacing! I never felt like the story lulled or wanted for more pieces in the puzzle. There were twists I should have seen coming but they surprised me! I thought the whole ride was fun!
I really enjoyed the world the author showed us, there seem to be no kitchens in this world, and they eat a lot of convenience store foods. It reminded me a bit of Ready Player One! I can’t wait to see where the story goes next! A lost colony???? Reminded me of the mentions of District 13 from Hunger Games!
The author puts his history in Cybersecurity to use in creating Penny’s time coding and breaking into the vault. A security system that required, “Something you know, something you are, and something you have” was a really cool idea, and I loved that it was spelled out for us!
I would love to learn more about this world! A few times I was confused about how the world/ silo/ ship was laid out and how the different parts were connected.
“The most treacherous enemy is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. They gain your trust, only to betray you when your guard is down.”
This is one of my top YA sci-fi books of the year!
Would I reread? Yes, very fun, and I need to know where we are going after that cliffhanger!
Would I recommend? It is easily recommendable, and is suitable for ages 10+ (no language, no dark violence, romance is appropriate for the age of the characters).
Recommended for Fans of Disney’s Descendants, Six of Crows and Scythe!
“Just because someone is bigger than you doesn’t mean you can’t stand up to them.”
Such a great and important quote, just shows that these characters are inherently good, and are robbing a bank, but they are doing it because they NEED TO DO IT.
Very grateful to the author for reaching out with his YA Sci-Fi / Fantasy Heist! What a fun story! A young group of misfit thief's band together to pull off the ultimate heist! Starting with a smaller successful heist at the beginning I really was reminded of Six of Crows!
The pace was fast, and the tone was light!
“Always have a failsafe.”
The characters were sweet, and we ended up with a few extra points of view characters that I was not expecting!
“A successful thief operates undetected, like a ghost in the night.”
I think the action in the story was done with the appropriate pacing! I never felt like the story lulled or wanted for more pieces in the puzzle. There were twists I should have seen coming but they surprised me! I thought the whole ride was fun!
I really enjoyed the world the author showed us, there seem to be no kitchens in this world, and they eat a lot of convenience store foods. It reminded me a bit of Ready Player One! I can’t wait to see where the story goes next! A lost colony???? Reminded me of the mentions of District 13 from Hunger Games!
The author puts his history in Cybersecurity to use in creating Penny’s time coding and breaking into the vault. A security system that required, “Something you know, something you are, and something you have” was a really cool idea, and I loved that it was spelled out for us!
I would love to learn more about this world! A few times I was confused about how the world/ silo/ ship was laid out and how the different parts were connected.
“The most treacherous enemy is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. They gain your trust, only to betray you when your guard is down.”
This is one of my top YA sci-fi books of the year!
Would I reread? Yes, very fun, and I need to know where we are going after that cliffhanger!
Would I recommend? It is easily recommendable, and is suitable for ages 10+ (no language, no dark violence, romance is appropriate for the age of the characters).
Recommended for Fans of Disney’s Descendants, Six of Crows and Scythe!
June 28, 2025
Okay, this was such a fun surprise! It follows Chloe Espinoza, a wild-haired thief living on a drifting spaceship-city called the Kingdom. She’s stuck in the honeycombs (the poor district) dreaming of a better life in the Gardens, but she’s broke. That is, until she gets an offer to pull off a high-stakes heist on the Kingdom’s impenetrable koin vault. But of course, she can’t do it alone; cue a chaotic but lovable crew.
When I first started it, the timing was wrong because I was trying to get out of a reading slump and so it was hard for me to get into it initially. I paused, came back to it, and I’m so glad I did! Once it gets going, it goes. I was nervous because it’s been compared to Six of Crows, which I personally didn’t love, but this? I enjoyed way more!
The writing is fantastic, the character dynamics are great (shoutout to Mojito, Penny, and Dutch!), and it even gave me cozy fantasy vibes at times though it definitely cranks up the tension near the end. The only reason I’m knocking it down half a star is because the word “ya” was used a lot in the dialogue and it started to drive me a bit bonkers, but other than that, this book was such a gem.
I received a signed copy from the author and everything from the cover to the quality of the print was top-notch. Huge shoutout to Gregory Michael for crafting such a creative, wild ride. Book two is already out and I’m definitely picking it up!
✨Perfect for fans of YA Sci-Fi, space heists, burritos and raccoons! 🦝
Rating is a solid 4.5 star 🌟
When I first started it, the timing was wrong because I was trying to get out of a reading slump and so it was hard for me to get into it initially. I paused, came back to it, and I’m so glad I did! Once it gets going, it goes. I was nervous because it’s been compared to Six of Crows, which I personally didn’t love, but this? I enjoyed way more!
The writing is fantastic, the character dynamics are great (shoutout to Mojito, Penny, and Dutch!), and it even gave me cozy fantasy vibes at times though it definitely cranks up the tension near the end. The only reason I’m knocking it down half a star is because the word “ya” was used a lot in the dialogue and it started to drive me a bit bonkers, but other than that, this book was such a gem.
I received a signed copy from the author and everything from the cover to the quality of the print was top-notch. Huge shoutout to Gregory Michael for crafting such a creative, wild ride. Book two is already out and I’m definitely picking it up!
✨Perfect for fans of YA Sci-Fi, space heists, burritos and raccoons! 🦝
Rating is a solid 4.5 star 🌟
September 27, 2024
"the threat you least expect"
This debut novel tells the tale of Chloe, Penny, Dutch, Mardi and Mojito (a raccoon!). This rag tag bunch of kids from the Honeycomb and Gardens sections of a space station are the true haves and have nots.
When an opportunity arises where a life-changing amount of Koin (money) can be stolen, the kids and their bar owning friend Mardi set to plan the heists of all heists!
All does not go well ( as it does!) and betrayal is on the menu instead of burritos. All is not as it seems!
I do love a good twist and this line in particular suits the story so well "the most treacherous enemy is a wolf in sheep's clothing. They gain your trust, only to betray you when your guard is down"
Found family, betrayal, coming of age, overcoming trauma, discovering hidden talents, terrible loss, young budding love....this book has it all!
We end on a cliffhanger so fingers crossed for book #2 coming soon.
My rating is 4.5 round up for Goodreads
This debut novel tells the tale of Chloe, Penny, Dutch, Mardi and Mojito (a raccoon!). This rag tag bunch of kids from the Honeycomb and Gardens sections of a space station are the true haves and have nots.
When an opportunity arises where a life-changing amount of Koin (money) can be stolen, the kids and their bar owning friend Mardi set to plan the heists of all heists!
All does not go well ( as it does!) and betrayal is on the menu instead of burritos. All is not as it seems!
I do love a good twist and this line in particular suits the story so well "the most treacherous enemy is a wolf in sheep's clothing. They gain your trust, only to betray you when your guard is down"
Found family, betrayal, coming of age, overcoming trauma, discovering hidden talents, terrible loss, young budding love....this book has it all!
We end on a cliffhanger so fingers crossed for book #2 coming soon.
My rating is 4.5 round up for Goodreads
May 18, 2025
What a blast!
It's a classic heist-style novel, paced as a thriller, but in a unique sci-fi setting. The characters leap off the page, the science and tech make sense, and the stakes are ever-increasing as the story progresses. It moves quickly and the short chapters keep you reading right along. It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger but with the main plot thread concluded in a satisfactory method, which gives me faith that the author won't leave the reader hanging.
Note: It says it's a YA novel, and it's *very* YA. I do not enjoy YA books in general and this one didn't swing my opinion one way or the other - I read it for the heist! But it does lean into YA tropes at times (both in a good and bad way) as a fair warning .
It's a classic heist-style novel, paced as a thriller, but in a unique sci-fi setting. The characters leap off the page, the science and tech make sense, and the stakes are ever-increasing as the story progresses. It moves quickly and the short chapters keep you reading right along. It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger but with the main plot thread concluded in a satisfactory method, which gives me faith that the author won't leave the reader hanging.
Note: It says it's a YA novel, and it's *very* YA. I do not enjoy YA books in general and this one didn't swing my opinion one way or the other - I read it for the heist! But it does lean into YA tropes at times (both in a good and bad way) as a fair warning .
April 6, 2024
Wow! What a fantastic debut novel! 'Chloe's Kingdom' is an absolute page-turner, packed with non-stop action and a gripping plot that hooks you from the very start. The short chapters make it impossible to resist just one more page! Gregory masterfully paints a vivid picture of life aboard the Kingdom, pulling readers in its unique atmosphere. What truly sets this book apart is his talent for fleshing out each character's backstory, allowing us to fully understand their motivations and actions. A truly phenomenal read that leaves you eagerly awaiting more from this talented author!
January 1, 2025
☕️☕️☕️☕️ great book. CHLOES KINGDOM is a sci-fi saved by the bell. It reminded me of Artemis by Andy weir . Resourceful characters trying to survive in a colony where the haves have it easy and the have nots still have to survive.
Easy to understand. Easy to follow. Characters that will draw you in. Set in space, on a colony. Not much else to do, but try and steel protein bars and burritos. A ragtag crew in the small time crime scene get offered a chance to take a little more.
This story moves incredibly fast with short chapters. The characters were very likable and the pacing was great. The end tripped me up in a good way and @_gregorymichael is going to deliver a second book that is sure to please, answering all the questions I now have…
Easy to understand. Easy to follow. Characters that will draw you in. Set in space, on a colony. Not much else to do, but try and steel protein bars and burritos. A ragtag crew in the small time crime scene get offered a chance to take a little more.
This story moves incredibly fast with short chapters. The characters were very likable and the pacing was great. The end tripped me up in a good way and @_gregorymichael is going to deliver a second book that is sure to please, answering all the questions I now have…
July 31, 2024
Everything I expected from a space heist story and more. This was such a fun day paced read. I loved all of the characters and Dutch was my favorite, I really felt for this guy and he has a great character arc. The world building was great, easy to grasp and a ton of fun. I love a good animal companion and Mojito the racoon delivers. I loved the short chapters and the fast pace.
If you are looking for a fun faced paced scifi heist this is the book for you. When are we getting book 2?
If you are looking for a fun faced paced scifi heist this is the book for you. When are we getting book 2?
January 28, 2025
This was an excellent read!
Perfect for readers new to the scifi genre. This book was super fast paced with multi pov that keeps the story engaging and entertaining all the way through. Plot twists I didn’t see coming and kept me wanting to know more. I loved the characters and especially our little animal companion raccoon Mojito just added to the fun of reading this.
I am hyped for book 2 to see where the story takes us.
Perfect for readers new to the scifi genre. This book was super fast paced with multi pov that keeps the story engaging and entertaining all the way through. Plot twists I didn’t see coming and kept me wanting to know more. I loved the characters and especially our little animal companion raccoon Mojito just added to the fun of reading this.
I am hyped for book 2 to see where the story takes us.
February 21, 2025
This was a pick from our monthly book club. I really enjoyed Chloe's Kingdom. It took a second to get used to the short chapters, but now I think I prefer it. I may have binged the whole book during a snowy Saturday lol. Our book club is def going to read the second, which is coming out later this year.
June 4, 2025
This is a 2-star review. The spelling and grammar were very good. The story and characters were not compelling enough to make me want to continue after the first few chapters.
I'm glad to have supported the author with a purchase of the book as he supported the idea of respectful disagreement and free speech when another author was bounced from the SPSFC earlier this year.
I'm glad to have supported the author with a purchase of the book as he supported the idea of respectful disagreement and free speech when another author was bounced from the SPSFC earlier this year.
June 13, 2025
Recommended to me by a friend. I've never read a book with short chapters. It was weird at first, but now I think it's my favorite style and will be looking for other similar books.
Overall, I loved the book. very fast, characters were really great, and I already preordered the sequel. Small spoiler - the ending is a cliffhanger.
Overall, I loved the book. very fast, characters were really great, and I already preordered the sequel. Small spoiler - the ending is a cliffhanger.
March 30, 2025
Incredible sci-fi heist adventure—looking forward to the sequel
Absolutely loved this book! The quick pace, snappy dialogue, and endearing characters pulled me in, and the space-heist plot kept me hooked until the last page. Plus, there’s a lovable animal sidekick! Can’t wait for book 2!
Absolutely loved this book! The quick pace, snappy dialogue, and endearing characters pulled me in, and the space-heist plot kept me hooked until the last page. Plus, there’s a lovable animal sidekick! Can’t wait for book 2!
April 11, 2024
Really liked the multiple POVs and short chapters - made it easier to binge the story. Pace was good and it was just the right amount of sci-fi. Looking forward to the follow-up.
April 24, 2024
Loved the multiple character point of views. Story went by fast, binged it in three days. Looking forward to the next one!
April 29, 2024
A great debut novel by Gregory! Good world building, engaging characters and plot with plenty of twists! Looking forward to the next book in the series!
October 13, 2024
What a captivating ride with great characters! Expect a few twists and turns along the way and I hope you like burritos! This is an excellent book with a captivating setting. 5 stars
December 21, 2024
Awesome debut! Loved the raccoon! Easy to read and the chapters were short… I binged the whole book in two days! Can’t wait for the second - hoping it comes out soon!
February 21, 2025
My book club picked up Chloe's Kingdom in January. So good! Loved the super fast heist and multiple characters. I can't wait for the follow up.
July 17, 2025
I really enjoyed the book overall. I did feel the first half of the story dragged a little, but the second half picked up big time and got to where I couldn't put it down
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