Nyxia

I enjoyed Nyxia's breakneck pace, distinct narrative voice, diverse cast of characters, and high-stakes premise, but I don't think I'll be reading the sequels. Partly because there's very little emotional buy-in from the protagonist, whose most touching scenes are the rare moments he speaks with his family back on Earth, but mostly because the plot twists seem centered around forging poor Emmett into a hero in the most painful ways possible.

This is particularly infuriating in the case of Kaya, whose every glimmer of potential as a leader, a whip-smart partner, and a morally centered crusader is crushed under the grinding wheels of Emmett's character arc, which requires her death only so she can be more or less replaced by a sexier and show more more badass version of the same character less than 50 pages later. This replacement, of course, has Teh Sex with our intrepid hero, whereas Kaya was merely a sister figure.

Heaven forbid this dude learn any other way. Nope. He's gotta be surrounded by death and loss and the ceaseless temptation to turn to the Dark Side in order to reach his full potential. And since I appear to be significantly more disturbed by his losses than he is, I don't particularly care to stick around for the completion of that journey. Good luck, Emmett...maybe I'll read your plot summary on Wikipedia some day. show less

OHMYGOODNESS this book was 10/10 and I am so in love and I need the sequel now and you need to read it now.
 
It's kind of like Divergent meets Ender's Game, and if anyone loved the Remnants series as much as I did, I have a feeling the sequels could have the same amount of philosophy.
 
And I could not put it down.
 
So nyxia is a substance found on another planet that can be manipulated in many ways, and that gives this book a fantastical element. But a realistically fantastical element. Like sci-fi with a bit of magical realism thrown in. It makes for a really unique plot that, though it incorporated elements of other books I've loved, was different to anything I've read before in many ways.
 
But the characters are really what sell this show more book. I am in love with each and every character because I feel like I got to know them all and they are all so very human and flawed and perfect and real. And there was such a variety, too! I do wish that some had been fleshed out more, but I felt like there was respect given to each of the different cultures that were represented as well. Even the medics in this book have their own stories and purposes.
 
I was especially enamoured with Morning and with Kaya. Oh, and Bilal--finally, an accurate representation of Middle Eastern culture casually in a book. The least interesting character was Emmett, our main character, but I love him anyway. His self-doubt and self-determination and adoration of his family made him a really easy narrator to follow beside.
 
The book has a futuristic element to it that gives Earth more intrigue too, and I loved elements such as music that were incorporated into it. I loved the commentary on healthcare and on money and on morals.
 
This is an excellent book. If you've ever enjoyed sci-fi or YA, I 100% recommend it. If you haven't, I still recommend it. Though maybe wait until the sequels are out so that you don't have to deal with a cliffhanger! :) show less

A YA Sci-fi novel that's part Mazerunner and part Breakfast Club set in space. I love that the characters are multicultural and that there were a few twists and turns I didn't expect. The plot is interesting even if most of this book can be considered setup for the sequel (most of this book is weeding down the crew to go to the planet Eden). There's still quite a bit of holes and unknowns that may be revealed in the next installment, but it's still a good read. I look forward to the follow-up. Great for Sci-fi fans, YA readers, and those who enjoy dystopias too. Recommended.

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A YA novel, the first in a trilogy, about a group of teenagers who are recruited to do a job on an alien planet mining for a truly precious substance. But first they have to compete with each other for the available positions.

I'm afraid this one really didn't work for me. I like to think I have a healthy suspension-of-disbelief ability, but the repeated body blows to it here were just entirely too much. I was willing to grant the extremely contrived reason why teenagers had to be used for this job. But then there was the alien substance that's not just indistinguishable from magic but seemingly actually magic, able to do any ridiculous (but narratively convenient) thing you might possibly ask of it. And the incredibe giant, apparently show more secret spaceship. And the fact that this competition seems like a really dumb way to run a recruitment drive/training course. And the offensively nonsensical rules change that happens partway through. And the stilted "hey, let's all share our tragic backstories!" bit. And... Well, you get the idea.

Oh, and there's also the fact that, while those who win the competition are promised a cool job and a giant fortune, the losers are promised... A slightly smaller very large amount of money, which is still enough to make a life-changing difference to their families, who will have already received badly needed medical services in the meantime. Which makes the lengths they're willing and expected to go to to win feel massively disproportionate and the stakes feel kind of low, at least for most of the story.

It is, at least, a pretty quick read. And it actually is trying to do some reasonably interesting things with the main character, who is fairly believable as an adolescent struggling between his more violently competitive impulses and his desire to be a good person. And the ending has a bit of an effect, although it would have had more of one if made any sense, either.

But, in any case, this isn't going to be a series I'm continuing on with. show less

Actual Rating:4.5

Wow, this was amazing, and to be honest, really not what I expected! It's got a bit of a dystopian feel to it, and there's that same competition aspect that we've seen in typical YA novels like Divergent, Throne of Glass, or The Hunger Games - but I will admit that it continues to be one of my favorite cliches, and believe me when I say this book made it work.

Nyxia is a substance that competitors can manipulate, and only the strongest can make it to Eden, a new planet. The kids have got to run through obstacle courses, fight one another, and train with Nyxia - which turns out to have some unfortunate side effects. Emmett is desperate to get to Eden - but so are many others - and as the line between right and wrong show more become blurrier, he's got to choose between staying true to himself and getting the life he's always wanted.

I loved the variety of characters, and one thing that really stood out to me about the characters was that there was so much diversity. They came from all around the world, and believe it or not I feel like this actually added to the "space" feeling of the book, because it emphasized the earth as one and unified people with a common goal.

I saw some people in other reviews comment on the lack of the "space" feeling, and I actually do have to agree with that. The book was still interesting and unique, but there wasn't that many extraterrestrial encounters or observations about the universe. I do understand that this book is the just the first in the series though, and I can tell it's going to get much more into all that in later books.

The plot was super interesting! I wouldn't call it full of action exactly but it kept me intrigued with a sort of anticipatory curiosity. That's not to say that there weren't any surprises though, as the book definitely threw lots of curveballs. I was really interested in Emmett's mental growth throughout the story as well, and I really liked that, unlike lots of teenage main characters who simply learn how to fight and look badass, Emmett learned strategy and how to think for himself and make hard decisions.

The writing style was that of any other YA novel, but because the main character developed so well the narrative was engaging and thoughtful. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book to any readers of YA or the dystopian genre, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. show less

Student Review by: Anita O (Grade 12)
Book Grade Level: 9-12
Library Merit: Amazing
Characterization: Extraordinary, Out of this world (Get it?)
Our main character, Emmett Atwater, along with nine other people, has been chosen by Babel Communications--one of the most powerful companies on Earth--to enter the planet of Eden. There, they will be mining for Nyxia, a substance that can basically be controlled and morphed into anything and only seems to grow on Eden. This mission is perfect for the recruits because not only does it offer the incentive and promise of a large sum of money, but the inhabitants of Eden--called Adamites--are welcoming but only to children. However, as expected of a company like Babel, there is a catch. Only eight show more out of the ten recruits will be able to actually go to Eden. Emmett is pushed to limits and obstacles he didn’t know were even possible to face, especially with the tension and threat of competition. However, with the passing of each challenge, Emmett comes to realize that the people he views as his enemies are not so different from him. They are all broken and are working towards a common goal after all.

This book was just simply amazing. Many of those who are associated with me know that I am very much stingy with my compliments when it comes to books. Most YA books these days seem to be the same recycled concept, however Nyxia really left me stunned. Rarely have I read a book where the character has pulled me into the depths of the story like this one did. From the beginning of the book to the very last sentence, Mr. Scott Reintgen fully captivated me and held my solemn attention. Emmett was so complex and so alive that I had no difficulties illustrating him in my mind. The ways he radiated his emotions were so raw, I saw so much of myself in him, and to be honest, there were times when I felt like I even became him. Whenever he was happy, angry, sad, annoyed, you mention it, I felt it right along with him. Not only that but the side characters were intricately written as well. Even though Emmett was essentially the center of this story, the other recruits were important additions to Emmett’s story as well, and each of them deeply influenced not only Emmett, but the story as well. Without them, certain elements of the story would simply not exist as it does now. I am a little disappointed in myself for putting this story on hold for so long, but I am glad that I read such a masterpiece. The upcoming sequel will definitely be one the tops reads on my list. show less

Emmett Atwater isn’t just leaving Detroit; he’s leaving Earth. Why the Babel Corporation recruited him is a mystery, but the number of zeroes on their contract has him boarding their lightship and hoping to return to Earth with enough money to take care of his family.

Forever.

Before long, Emmett discovers that he is one of ten recruits, all of whom have troubled pasts and are a long way from home. Now each recruit must earn the right to travel down to the planet of Eden—a planet that Babel has kept hidden—where they will mine a substance called Nyxia that has quietly become the most valuable material in the universe.

But Babel’s ship is full of secrets. And Emmett will face the ultimate choice: win the fortune at any cost, or show more find a way to fight that won’t forever compromise what it means to be human. show less