Kheris Burning Review

Book: Kheris Burning
Author: C.G. Hatton
Series: Thieves' Guild Origins: LC Book One
Genre: YA sci-fi
Pages: 167
Release: April 9th, 2016
Source: author (thank you, C.G.!)

No one in the galaxy gives a damn about Kheris, a war-torn mining colony in the back of beyond.
Thirteen-year-old Luka is used to running from trouble, living rough with a gang of street kids, stealing from the Imperial troops and selling scavenged tech and intel to the Wintran-backed resistance fighters to survive.
But when a mysterious ship crashes in the desert, his life is turned upside down overnight. Suddenly Kheris is on everyone’s radar and he finds himself caught between the two warring factions, with the lives of those closest to him threatened.
He’s desperate to find a way out, but will the cost be too high?

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This book begins off with Luka, a thirteen-year old boy living in Kheris, doing what he can to survive. But when a ship crashes nearby and Luka goes out to investigate, he returns only to find himself under suspicion, resulting in his friends being captured. But the only path for safety for anyone is for Luka to devise a way to get them out...

Right off the back, we got a good sense of the type of person Luka was with the kind of work he was doing. Dangerous, risky, and completely cut-throat, Luka easily proved his worth from accomplishing serious stunts, including stealing codes and other information. He gave off a I-don't-care attitude, yet you could easily see he cared a lot, and did his best to make ends meet for food. I particularly liked how he refused to leave people behind, which really spoke of his loyalty and dedication those he had!

I really liked Luka's relationship with Maisie and Latia. He refused to leave the two of them behind to Drayton's mercy, and begrudgingly obliged to his requests to ensure their safety. Only thirteen, yet already willing to risk himself to save others. He's definitely the kind of person you'd want guarding your back, especially during a war-filled time like the one Kheris is in!

If the synopsis wasn't evidence enough, I was immediately suspicious of the ship that crashed. I knew it was bad news, and knew something equally bad would happen if Luka went out to investigate. But then again, realistically, if I were in his shoes, I probably would have done the same. I just didn't know how bad the results would be, with everything that went down with Drayton. The consequences of having both curiosity and desperation can be both a gift and a curse at times...

There were a few twists that I didn't see coming, which really brought excitement to the plot. There was one character in particular that took my completely by surprise by his change in attitude, and another one who though I had thought was bad, did not expect to find the extend of betrayal he had committed until Luka unearthed the information. 

The ending with Luka's final decision was bittersweet. The sacrifice he made was selfless, but it's easy to see that it's one that may come back to haunt him later. Right choices don't always make it any less painful to make them, let alone live with them. But it definitely sets Luka's character up very well, creating a rigid yet strong young man. 

Overall, this was fast paced and well written. The author found a great balance between action, plot, and context, making it an interesting and intriguing world!