Teens in a fight against time and each other. A spaceship heading to a distant planet. A newly discovered race and a powerful substance that may be more dangerous that anyone knows.
Nyxia was an interesting read. I think, initially at least, I assumed there'd be a bit more...space. Now, don't get me wrong, the whole thing takes place
in space, but the idea that the characters are on a spaceship is encapsulated in the back of your mind instead of something that really affects the plot.
I found the cast of characters varied and diverse (something I appreciated) and the main object of the plot to be pretty simple: make it on to Eden. Cue chaos, back-biting, competition, and a whole other slew of problems.
Emmett, the main character, was tough for me to pin down. I could understand and appreciate his motivation - coming from a rough neighborhood and wanting to do his best for his parents - but he was hard for me to connect with for some reason. Another thing that was a challenge was the pace. While I feel the book started off well and it kept the intrigue for a while, it became a little slow in the middle. It did speed up at the end, and captured my interest at the end.
I would say I could mildly recommend this to those to enjoy
barely sci-fi novels or possibly more of an adventure/contemporary with a technological edge? Sadly, I anticipated a bit more of an epic story for all of the hype that surrounded this book and I really wanted to love it...but it just didn't make the cut for me. You may find you enjoy this more than me, which would make me nothing but happy :)
For my clean readers: There is language and one instance/mention of intimacy (that, in my humble opinion, did
not need to be in the book at all) though no details were shared. There's also some violence. I'd probably say 16+.
My rating: 3.5*
Purchase: Nyxia
Book Description
(From Amazon)
What would you be willing to risk for a lifetime of fortune? 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.
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I received this book for free but was under no obligation to post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.
I also enjoyed the world building. Hovercrafts, transports, and tech. Ahhh, things that send shivers up my spine in delight of futuristic worlds. Enter: The Delonese. I loved the addition of this humanoid type race that happens to be light years ahead in regards to technology. And yet there's something off about them (per the story and plot, of course) and I like that intrigue.
