Burn Out

In 300 years, mankind will colonize the stars via faster-than-light travel but be unable to master the basics of hydrogen harvest and combustion to ensure a water supply. That’s just one of the unlikely aspects of the “science” of this fiction. Tora, the sole and embittered survivor of her family, is trapped on a dying Earth by a promise to her father. She guards the apocalyptic weapons he developed for—and then stole from—the corrupt Consulate government. The one person who knows where to find her is the mercenary Markus, who gladly sells her out, only to be double-crossed himself. Tora is trapped in the family bunker with Markus’s crew, including the cute but surly James. The nominal makings of a romantic thriller come together in Helvig’s debut, but the situation still doesn’t make sense. If the weapons should never fall into others’ hands, why didn’t Tora’s father simply destroy them, instead of his family? There are few answers and no resolution, but a sequel is planned. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jessica Regel, Foundry Literary + Media. (Apr.)