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A review by tullydew
Nyxia by Scott Reintgen
4.0
I received an electronic arc of this novel from Netgalley for an honest review.
I actually loved this book. I saw a few people I follow didn’t finish it, so I had low expectations. I’m actually glad I had those low expectations because Nyxia pleasantly surprised me as being really freaking amazing. I am definitely recommending this book to all YA Sci-Fi lovers. It’s an excellent Sci-Fi novel that I think a ton of people will adore. WHile I’m recommending things, I would also recommend that you go into this book not expecting anything and really not even reading the synopsis (I’ll still put the synopsis below for those of you who want to ignore my recommendations). The author does an amazing job setting up the characters in the world and to fully appreciate that go in knowing nothing!
Synopsis from Goodreads:
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 find a way to fight that won’t forever compromise what it means to be human.
This book, as I said, was set up fantastically. I’m impressed at how well Reintgen set it up. Granted, the entire novel takes place on a space ship, but still I’m impressed. For a debut novel, Nyxia reads like an experienced author.
Every. Single. Character. In. This. Novel. Is. Amazing.
Again, I’m so impressed because not many novels can do this. This novel has 20 plus characters. That is not the norm in pretty much any novel. There are exceptions (especially in the Sci-Fi genre), but in it’s refreshing to have it in a YA novel. Off the top of my head while writing this, the only YA book I can think of that has more than 20 characters in the first novel is The Hunger Games. I can’t stop saying it; I’m so impressed.
Pretty much every character is diverse. That’s right only a couple of white people and everyone else is a POC. I wish there was more LGBTQIA+ rep in this book, but there really was hardly any romance in this novel. And for once, I didn’t need it. I hardly ever read books without any semblance of romance, so when the romance finally did pop up in this novel (toward the end) I was like, “Oh sh*t, there has literally not been any romance to this point.” I think Reintgen could expand his LGTBQIA+ rep in the next two novels though, so I’m not too worried at this point. Just give me some girl love man come on ( I completely ship Azima with a girl. DO IT SCOTT).
Another complaint I have about this book is it’s kind of a YA retelling of Avatar. Ya know, the blue people movie James “Trash” Cameron wrote. Nyxia is basically what would happen if you could be awake on this ship to Pandora. Not even kidding. I mean the planet they’re going to is called Eden….. It’s a little baffling. This being said, I absolutely adore the movie Avatar (I know I will get hate for this, but bite me I love this movie), so I honestly liked this basic retelling of Avatar. I think a lot of people will see that as a detriment though. Honestly, it just reminds me of Avatar. Reintgen takes the original idea and makes it his own and puts his own spin on it, so it doesn’t bother me at all.
Basically, I’m still surprised by this book. I’m surprised I liked it. I’m surprised I wrote a 600 word review. I hope you all give this book a chance because I really liked it!
I give this book 4 stars!
★★★★
I actually loved this book. I saw a few people I follow didn’t finish it, so I had low expectations. I’m actually glad I had those low expectations because Nyxia pleasantly surprised me as being really freaking amazing. I am definitely recommending this book to all YA Sci-Fi lovers. It’s an excellent Sci-Fi novel that I think a ton of people will adore. WHile I’m recommending things, I would also recommend that you go into this book not expecting anything and really not even reading the synopsis (I’ll still put the synopsis below for those of you who want to ignore my recommendations). The author does an amazing job setting up the characters in the world and to fully appreciate that go in knowing nothing!
Synopsis from Goodreads:
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 find a way to fight that won’t forever compromise what it means to be human.
This book, as I said, was set up fantastically. I’m impressed at how well Reintgen set it up. Granted, the entire novel takes place on a space ship, but still I’m impressed. For a debut novel, Nyxia reads like an experienced author.
Every. Single. Character. In. This. Novel. Is. Amazing.
Again, I’m so impressed because not many novels can do this. This novel has 20 plus characters. That is not the norm in pretty much any novel. There are exceptions (especially in the Sci-Fi genre), but in it’s refreshing to have it in a YA novel. Off the top of my head while writing this, the only YA book I can think of that has more than 20 characters in the first novel is The Hunger Games. I can’t stop saying it; I’m so impressed.
Pretty much every character is diverse. That’s right only a couple of white people and everyone else is a POC. I wish there was more LGBTQIA+ rep in this book, but there really was hardly any romance in this novel. And for once, I didn’t need it. I hardly ever read books without any semblance of romance, so when the romance finally did pop up in this novel (toward the end) I was like, “Oh sh*t, there has literally not been any romance to this point.” I think Reintgen could expand his LGTBQIA+ rep in the next two novels though, so I’m not too worried at this point. Just give me some girl love man come on ( I completely ship Azima with a girl. DO IT SCOTT).
Another complaint I have about this book is it’s kind of a YA retelling of Avatar. Ya know, the blue people movie James “Trash” Cameron wrote. Nyxia is basically what would happen if you could be awake on this ship to Pandora. Not even kidding. I mean the planet they’re going to is called Eden….. It’s a little baffling. This being said, I absolutely adore the movie Avatar (I know I will get hate for this, but bite me I love this movie), so I honestly liked this basic retelling of Avatar. I think a lot of people will see that as a detriment though. Honestly, it just reminds me of Avatar. Reintgen takes the original idea and makes it his own and puts his own spin on it, so it doesn’t bother me at all.
Basically, I’m still surprised by this book. I’m surprised I liked it. I’m surprised I wrote a 600 word review. I hope you all give this book a chance because I really liked it!
I give this book 4 stars!
★★★★