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moni_ava's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
rachreadsbooks27's review against another edition
3.0
3.5... similar to Maze Runner, but I enjoyed this so much more.
chughes120's review against another edition
4.0
Space competition for teens featuring magic sentient space goo.
This felt familiar to so many other sci fi YA novels, yet still completely new. It is what I wish Red Rising was and what I felt the first Hunger Games was, and for once I don’t know exactly where it’s going, although I feel like it’s turning into Avatar (the aliens one, not the airbender one)?
Don’t get me wrong, there’s some tropey elements I don’t love - lead character who is an instinctively powerful fighter, child romance trying to be more adult than it is, randomly homicidal teens, evil dystopian corporation that no one questions, etc - but it also didn’t fall into many of the pitfalls that typical YA fantasy/sci fi series fall into. I only hope the next two books can keep up the momentum.
This felt familiar to so many other sci fi YA novels, yet still completely new. It is what I wish Red Rising was and what I felt the first Hunger Games was, and for once I don’t know exactly where it’s going, although I feel like it’s turning into Avatar (the aliens one, not the airbender one)?
Don’t get me wrong, there’s some tropey elements I don’t love - lead character who is an instinctively powerful fighter, child romance trying to be more adult than it is, randomly homicidal teens, evil dystopian corporation that no one questions, etc - but it also didn’t fall into many of the pitfalls that typical YA fantasy/sci fi series fall into. I only hope the next two books can keep up the momentum.
brookeshires's review against another edition
3.0
Eh, I was kind of bored. The audio was entertaining, but I just didn't get into the SciFi aspect of the book. Read it as part of Book Clubs for my 9th grades. I can see recommending this to boys that like to read or might be reluctant to start reading.
ctomasula's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
twstdtink's review against another edition
5.0
They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. But, secretly, we all do. It's one of the reasons physical books aren't dead yet, despite the reduced cost of going digital. As far as looks go, Nyxia would be the prom queen of 2017. This book is slick, shiny, and textured. It's downright sexy. I took it to my son's music lesson and three people asked me what it was about. We've been going there for six months and no one has ever talked to me before. Apparently, I've been socializing all wrong. Thankfully, Nyxia's insides didn't disappoint either.
Nyxia by Scott Reintgen is everything that's great about young-adult dystopian novels. It's fast paced and gritty, with colorful characters that don't waste time on needless dialog. The main character is a young black man, something I rarely see in teen novels. Other reviewers have compared it to Maze Runner and Hunger Games. The only thing that unites those books, besides a common genre, is that they're all breakthrough novels of their time. Nyxia manages to be exciting without being formulaic - a common issue in today's growing YA market.
The story takes place in space, aboard a ship headed to a distant planet nicknamed Eden. Eden contains a strange resource that Babel Communications, a powerful Earth corporation, would like to get their hands on. The only issue is, Eden also contains alien beings who are hostile to Babel's agenda. Emmett and nine other impoverished teens have been recruited to train and travel to the alien planet, romanced by the prospect of money and security for their loved ones back on Earth. But, things aren't what they seem - not the corporation that hired them, not what they'll be required to do to get there, and certainly not the substance they're being trained to mine. Not everyone will make it to Eden alive.
Reintgen's sequel, Nyxia Unleased, comes out in July of 2018, and it's not soon enough!
Nyxia by Scott Reintgen is everything that's great about young-adult dystopian novels. It's fast paced and gritty, with colorful characters that don't waste time on needless dialog. The main character is a young black man, something I rarely see in teen novels. Other reviewers have compared it to Maze Runner and Hunger Games. The only thing that unites those books, besides a common genre, is that they're all breakthrough novels of their time. Nyxia manages to be exciting without being formulaic - a common issue in today's growing YA market.
The story takes place in space, aboard a ship headed to a distant planet nicknamed Eden. Eden contains a strange resource that Babel Communications, a powerful Earth corporation, would like to get their hands on. The only issue is, Eden also contains alien beings who are hostile to Babel's agenda. Emmett and nine other impoverished teens have been recruited to train and travel to the alien planet, romanced by the prospect of money and security for their loved ones back on Earth. But, things aren't what they seem - not the corporation that hired them, not what they'll be required to do to get there, and certainly not the substance they're being trained to mine. Not everyone will make it to Eden alive.
Reintgen's sequel, Nyxia Unleased, comes out in July of 2018, and it's not soon enough!
aimeesbookishlife's review against another edition
3.0
This book was recommended to me by Emer, one of the mods in the GR book group I am part of (A Book Nirvana). As soon as I heard that it had aliens, space travel, teenagers fighting each other in a contest, I was sold. I've seen this book referred to as 'The Hunger Games in space', and I'm often sceptical when I hear books described as 'X crossed with Y' or 'the new Z' but actually that is a really good description of Nyxia.
It's not the kind of sci-fi book to take too seriously - the titular nyxia is a strange substance from another planet which is used as a convenient handwave for any new technology the author doesn't really want to explain. How can the ship travel so quickly? Nyxia. How can the recruits communicate despite having different languages? Nyxia. How can the recruits fight each other realistically without causing any harm? Nyxian oil. But I really didn't care because I was having so much fun with the story that I was happy to believe it.
And I really liked Emmett. He was really compelling (the whole plucky underdog thing always gets me) and I was rooting for him from the start. I loved his character arc and his complicated relationships with the other recruits, who were both his friends and his competitors.
The ending is a real cliffhanger so I can't wait until the release of the second book.
It's not the kind of sci-fi book to take too seriously - the titular nyxia is a strange substance from another planet which is used as a convenient handwave for any new technology the author doesn't really want to explain. How can the ship travel so quickly? Nyxia. How can the recruits communicate despite having different languages? Nyxia. How can the recruits fight each other realistically without causing any harm? Nyxian oil. But I really didn't care because I was having so much fun with the story that I was happy to believe it.
And I really liked Emmett. He was really compelling (the whole plucky underdog thing always gets me) and I was rooting for him from the start. I loved his character arc and his complicated relationships with the other recruits, who were both his friends and his competitors.
The ending is a real cliffhanger so I can't wait until the release of the second book.
cslanzi's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. For a YA sci-fi book it was excellent. I’ll be reading the rest of the trilogy. The characters were well developed. There was suspense and plot twists. I really enjoyed it.
linesuponapage's review against another edition
5.0
If you love a good Sci-fi, this book is for you! I can’t say enough about this book. It kept me engaged from cover to cover! The character development, (especially the protagonist, Emmett- fathom?), the storyline, the story telling was superb! My only problem with Scott Reintgen's book, Nxyia was that it left me wanting for more! The twists, the turns all the way to the end were pleasantly placed and non-expected. I can't wait for the next book. I want to see what Eden, itself looks like. Well done, Mr. Reintgen, you've drawn me in to your world. I think I'm going to have to add these books to my home library shelves! I know the most excellent teen who will love it!