Review: Chloe's Kingdom by Gregory Michael
Blurb:
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 prize: 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.
Review:
From the Honeycomb to the Kion Vault, this galactic space heist was so entertaining and a great read for the whole family. I loved these ambitious young characters with their contagious gusto. With big hearts and burritos on their mind, this scrappy crew faces their greatest score yet. The found family, animal companion, high stakes and surprising twist left me very excited that there’s more to come!
The story opens with Chloe, Penny, and Dutch in the midst of a protein bar heist. The crew's success hinges on Mojito, Chloe's pet raccoon, who has quick hands and fits in tight spaces. Nothing feels impossible for this feisty bunch. But after an accident, a dangerous job too good to pass up is presented to Chloe and Penny. I really loved how this fun story unfolds as we follow the crew on their next job. The kids face some pretty tough choices and learn some good lessons along the way, while still being thoroughly entertaining. The pace never let up as I was flipping the pages, eager for just “one more chapter.” The plot really unfolds nicely and I thought it was great how Michael built in misdirection under avenues we grew to trust. The ending was a fun twist, though I had my suspicions, and I think all in all it ended quite nicely while leaving you excited for more.
“What could be bigger than burritos? Penny wondered.”
The world building was fun and interesting without being overwhelming. I loved the design of the space city and the ease of navigability. No matter the age of the reader, which I think can be anywhere from middle grade and up, it wasn't a struggle to follow the structure of the world. That said, there are some moments to suspend your disbelief, which I think really works for a YA but may leave the adult readers looking for a little more. The scale of the space station is a bit convenient, everyone knows everyone, and their world runs entirely on burritos, protein bars and drink pouches. In fairness, haven't we all sometimes? Those things didn't take me out of the book, though, and that was probably because I was so in love with the characters.
“She needed her crew to exhibit a ruthless pursuit of excellence. Anything short of that would jeopardize their mission.”
Chloe and Penny are really great friends. They aren't perfect and that's what I love about them. Their skills really come into play and I never really questioned their abilities as they solved each problem that came their way. Despite their struggles at times, they are always looking out for each other and trying to make the right call. I love the addition of Dutch to the team. He’s not only awesome but is a good representation of anxiety and trauma in the crew. The side characters for the most part were great, though a few felt a little more static. Jubilee and Mardi were both wonderful, and though at times it felt a little bit like leaving the children to do all the hard adult things (like any other YA novel), I thought the conclusion was interesting in those respects.
And that’s all you can ask for from a YA. I loved it so much my son is now reading it, (and bugging me for a pet racoon, thanks a lot Gregory). It’s really nice to have books in this arena I can share with my kids and still enjoy myself wholeheartedly. I think that’s a credit to Michael’s writing. It’s quick paced, readable, and easy to digest, while still being entertaining with great prose. The multiple POV’s really keep us in the excitement as the clock ticks down. And wouldn’t you know it, we learn about love, loss, and the value of a good burrito in the process.
“I made it as clear as New Estrella’s bubble.”
If you’re looking for a fun space heist with a group of scrappy kids, this is your sign. I think this would be a great book-slump book, a family read, or for anyone seeking a bit of high stakes fun on a space station with a ragtag team of young thieves.
