What would you do in order to win a spot that can ensure you can take care of your family?Emmett get’s recruited by Babel Corporation for a spot to go to the planet and get paid a nice chunk of money. 10 recruits will have to compete for the 8 spots available to travel down to the planet of Eden where they will mine Nyxia a valuable material in the universe. Yet there is more to Babel Corporation then meets the eye. Emmett will be faced with the choice of doing anything to win or find a way to keep his compassion.

If you are into sci-fi is is a great book to read. Twist and turns that will keep you reading. If you like THE MAZE RUNNER and ENDGAME you will like this book.

First things first, I am highly upset that this slid under the diversity radar of the YA and twitter community. This is easily one of the most diverse YA books I have read. Different cultures and ethnicity coming together but still battling it out for a better life.

Very hunger games but better and in space.

There can only be 7 of the 10 kids all vying for the chance to go to Eden and retrieve the substance known as nyxia. A substance that can take shape of anything you like if you can picture it in your mind. All of this kids came from different countries and states but they all have a need for financial gain.

Emmett our BLACK LEAD has a mother suffering from cancer and working with Bable will set them up with cash for life. That is, if he can make it to the final group.

As you can guess, Bable is SHADY AS FUUUUCK.

The action and suspense in this book is really fantastic as was the plot. I was shocked several times by the twists it took. Still salty about Kaya, js. Great sci-fi experience.

I'm ready for book 2 cuz HOOLLEEEE SHIT was that ending definitely a nice setup.

This story is so intense and unique you will not be disappointed. The characters are so well written and individual they stand out themselves. There is a character for everyone in this book. The whole competition of kids thing is a concept that we've read before and the author took it to a whole new level! The science is iffy but this is one of those books you can just enjoy.

This book is so intense and epic! I could not put it down and I would highly recommend this to anyone! This reminds me so much of the hunger games and in that way I loved it. The characters are interesting, nuanced and I really adored the writing style of this! 4/5 stars for sure! I am very thankful to the publisher and netgalley for this arc so that I could review it for you guys.

Scott Reintgen has taken a path that has been trod by others - teens in a competition setting with life or what feels like it on the line, plus a convenient abscence of adult control - and has made it his own.

With a diverse cast of kids that do more than just tick diversity boxes; they actually stand out as characters and people, the reader is sure to find a voice that speaks to them. And they've got some very worthwhile things to say. There's multiple female characters that actually get a fair amount of face time. Authority shouldn't be blindly trusted no matter how much you need to believe they can be. And while the science can be a little...hand-wavy at times, the fact that science, knowledge, and the process of learning are as central as they are is important in itself.
It's a series, of course, but this book could stand by itself - I'll be interested to see the second, and hopefully it can say the same.

What would you do if the choices you made changed the world around you? That's a thought that constantly runs through Emmett Atwater's mind. Chosen for a special exploration mission alongside nine others from around the word, he's not sure what to expect.

His group has been given specific instructions. They are to prove themselves worthy of the upcoming mission and learn everything they can when it comes to the substance called Nyxia. If they're to succeed, they'll need to work together in achieving their every goal. The question is, how can he and the others do that when the Babel Corporation has other sordid plans in motion?

From the moment I started reading Nyxia I was hooked. Mind you, I wasn't able to read the book in just one sitting, but man, did the story capture my attention. Every chance I had, I ran back to the book. I'm so glad I did, too. I needed to know what happened next with Emmett and the others.

I love the pacing Scott has set for the story and its characters. We meet Emmett and nine other teens from around the world who are determined in making a name for themselves throughout their mission. These are kids who have lived hard lives, yet they're unwilling to back down from the choice and the new life they've been given. If they succeed, their families will have a whole new lease on life. Thus, losing is not an option.

The way Scott paints the environment these characters find themselves in is so vivid that it makes the reader want to be there every step of the way. From the twists and turns in the ship, to what each character does through their missions, you find yourself imagining everything. Space, the ship, Eden, Babel—you want to discover each and every secret they hold. That's how intriguing the story is.

I honestly can't wait to see what Scott brings us next for Emmett and the others. Will they successfully complete the goals that have been set before them? What are Babel's true intentions? It's hard to say, but I'm sure the next book in the series will answers those questions and countless others.

More, please!

I can't wait for the rest of the series! The entirety of this book takes place on a spaceship on its' way to Eden. Because of the description, I expected to see some of the planet in this novel but the fact that I didn't somehow makes the sequel even more desirable. The book reminds me of Ender's Game in all the right ways. The beginning did seem to drag a bit for me just because it was a bit repetitive although the character building in that part of the book is very necessary. For my family-minded readers, there's a bit of swearing in the book but mostly it's turned into slang. A bit, non-graphic, sexual content just as two people are interested in each other. Honestly it's barely there. The one here that really might bother someone would be the violence. Just like in The Hunger Games, Babel pits kids against kids and they have to compete and literally fight each other daily. The book mentions the fight screen being graphic and there are a few parts where the violence does get a bit graphic but not overly so. It's somewhat necessary to the story when it happens and the vividness of some of the descriptions help jar you to recognize how horrible the situation is that these kids are in. Overall, if you can handle the violence ok, this is a really good book and a series that I will be following.

I would like to thank the publisher, author, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fast-paced sci-fi "competition" story with an admirably diverse cast of characters. If you can suspend your disbelief about the premise, and a good many of the details (maybe a few too many...), you will be rewarded with a wild ride.

Can't wait to see what happens next!

This is a spoiler free review of Nyxia by Scott Reintgen, the first novel in The Nyxia Triad.

I gave this book a 4/5 stars and highly enjoyed it. This is a futuristic science fiction story with Aliens, space travel, and hints of romance.

General Thoughts and Plot

"Unlearn your idea of impossible." "A branch can be cut away but roots run deep and dark."

This novel follows Emmett Atwater, one of ten teens recruited by Babel Corporations to compete in a series of tasks and training to be chosen to go to the planet Eden and mine Nyxia for Babel. Each of the teens is in this competition not just for themselves, but for the money that comes with it to support their families. They go through rigorous training to compete for the spots to go to Eden, the home to alien creatures called adamites. Only eight can go down and mine Nyxia for Babel, living there for three years and earning an immense sum of money.

Throughout the competition, Emmett soon learns that Babel is full of secrets, some so highly guarded that they would rather risk death than have the secrets escape. Now Emmett must decide if this fortune is truly worth the cost of Babel's lies.

While the pacing of the novel was slow, I did enjoy the story as a whole, especially the diversity of it. There were plot twists after plot twist and epic sci-fi elements that loved.

Characters

There were many characters throughout the story, so while I did not find it hard to distinguish one from another, I did have a hard time connecting with many of them. However, since this is a first book in a trilogy, I presume I will further connect with the characters as I grow to know them.

I very much admired the main character Emmett because while he made many tough choices throughout the story, he never lost his sense of self righteousness. He was able to overcome many obstacles and never gave up on what he knew he had to accomplish. 

Final Thoughts

I don't have too much to share other than the fact that I really liked this story. It was a very fun read and a delightful first book to what will most likely be an epic trilogy. 

This book had great friendships, and so many diverse characters from all around the world represented. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Sci-Fi. 

I cannot wait to read the next one!

Disclosure: I received a download of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This is my review on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27426044-nyxia?ac=1&from_search=true

Too many characters mixed in with a dull plot. This book just didn't do anything for me and I was just glad to finish it.

Big thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review.

With its delightfully diverse cast of characters and a storyline that kept my pulse racing, Nyxia was such a fast-paced and phenomenal story that easily made it to favorites list within the first 100 pages.

Reminiscent of The Hunger Games - or more recently, Warcross by Marie Lu, Nyxia is the story of 10 teens handpicked to embark on a mission to an alien planet to mine a mysterious substance aptly called nyxia. The contestants must endure rigorous training in preparation for the mission, and they’re all in competition with one another to ensure their spot on the list. 10 contestants, but only 8 will be chosen. Training is hardcore and filled with danger, as some of the competitors are out for blood. Literally. Especially when the prize is riches beyond belief and the chance at a life they’ve only dreamed about.

When the game ends, there will be winners and losers. I always thought things would get clearer as we arrived at the finish line, but I was wrong. We’re all reaching for the same prizes. The finish line will be chaos. It will be the final and dying efforts of the desperate. — Scott Reintgen, Nyxia

Fraught with danger and filled with intrigue, the mystery surrounding this very interesting company that chose these kids was one of my favorite parts. Outside, it looks like Babel Communications, is everything they’ve said they are, but the more time these kids spend aboard Babel’s ship, Genesis 11, the more they learn that perhaps everything isn’t as it seemed. Their are secrets aplenty and it’s anyone’s guess if the company is what they say they are, or more importantly, if this substance they desire is as safe as they claim.

The world-building was absolutely phenomenal in this book with its futuristic elements and the technology and the little hints of what earth is like in this future. Much of the story takes place in space aboard the Genesis 11, and I’m so excited to see what Reintgen has in store for these characters once they finally make it to the alien planet, Eden. There’s also a very interesting theme running throughout the book with its many biblical references - Babel, which is found in the Bible in none other than Genesis 11, the planet Eden, even the aliens who are called Adamites, and it’s interesting to see how he incorporates them and what the meaning and purpose is, or will be because I haven’t quite figured it out yet.

The characters were amazing. Each and every one of them, and it was so refreshing to see teens come together and form friendships and lasting bonds that are as pure as they’re intended to be with no ulterior motives, and not as a means to incorporate a romance. Although there is a hint of a romance blossoming between two of the characters, but it’s entirely separate from the strong friendships and the sense of family that developed between many of the kids.

“I know something happened to you too,” she says. “You don’t have to tell me what it was or why it happened. But you want to know why I care about you? Why I like you? Because I made a promise to myself when I was little. If I ever saw someone who was blue, like me, I’d never leave them. So I’m not going to leave you just because you had a bad day. I’m not going to leave you just because you’re mad at everything. We’re not just roommates anymore, Emmett; we’re family. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Bottom line - I loved this book and I’m so mad at myself that it took me so long to finally get to it. Although reading it late gets me a little closer to the next book, which I’m definitely anticipating after that rough and ruthless ending. Highly recommended.

*eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Let’s make it official: Books set in space are the ABSOLUTE BEST! They’re always futuristic, which makes the world something you know as well as don’t and the plot twists that most of them house are absolutely INSANE. They almost always have morally ambiguous characters that you love and THEY’RE THE BEST, OKAY?

I’ve had Scott Reintgen’s debut novel on my bookish radar for a while before I got the chance to read it and now that I’m done, I HAVE to say that Nyxia is ABSOLUTELY MIND BLOWING and the Reintgen is an EVIL GENIUS and I needed the next instalment in my life YESTERDAY.

MY THOUGHTS:

1. The very first thing I felt as I flipped open this book was confusion. THERE WERE 10+ CHARACTERS INTRODUCED AND DESCRIBED ALL AT ONE TIME AND IT WAS HARD TO KEEP UP. And then the MC used the phrase ‘A politically correct suicide squad’ to describe them and I knew we were going to be okay.

2. It took a while for me to get past my initial confusion and remember all the characters but as I grew more accustomed to the world Nyxia was set in, the more I loved it. And obsessed about it. And needed answers and happy endings for my darling muffin characters. (P.s: If you can’t tell, I fell in love with the book)

3. Nyxia revolves around a group of 10 misfit, broken teenagers being taken into space and to another planet (Eden) that hosts sentient life forms (Adamites) and mine a substance worth billions of dollars (Nyxia) and over the course of their yearlong travel, they have to compete against each other in daily tests for only eight out of the ten will get send down and the other two, back to Earth. It was INTENSE, complicated, filled with adrenaline and twists and I was SAD AND HORRIFIED when I reached the end because I NEED BOOK TWO NOW.

4. I fell in love with Emmett. FAST. He was the PERFECT morally ambiguous character who questioned the boundaries of good and bad as well as right and wrong. I loved his determination and grit and NEED TO BE THE BEST. He was calculating and loyal and ruthless at times and I LOVED IT.

5. Nyxia was FILLED WITH 800,000 PLOT TWISTS THAT LEFT MY MOUTH HANGING AND MY HEAD CURSING SCOTT REINTGEN FOR PUTTING MY POOR HEART THROUGH IT ALL. I was blindsided, and all my #feels were thrown on a rollercoaster and it was one of the BEST EXPERIENCES EVER.

6. I loved the competitive atmosphere this book created. Nyxia contained an arena and tests worthy of The Hunger Games but set in SPACE and with VOLUNTARY TRIBUTES which just made it better. I loved the competition and the need to win in all the secondary characters especially Kaya.

7. REALLY, THIS BOOK WAS PERFECTION AND YOU NEED IT IN YOUR LIVES.

Nyxia was EVERYTHING I thought it would be and more. A jaw dropping, PERFECT debut novel that is perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Illuminae.

I highly enjoyed this book. I don’t think it’s one for a re-read, but the initial journey through was a thoroughly compelling one as characters were quite difficult to read, yet there was just enough room for me to suppose there was more character development to be unraveled, and I really liked that suspense.

Furthermore, although this book is highly reminiscent of The Hunger Games, it sets itself apart by establishing strong friendships early on in the book. These competitors must inevitably weed each other out as the tension continues to build between them, but the fact that they’re good friends from the start was a great point of conflict, and the dilemma of their growing alliances were heightened as a result.

Oh, and I liked the function of the villain in this story! We don’t know precisely why she behaves the way that she does, but that made her a pleasantly unpredictable (and quite frankly, scary) element of the plot. Not to mention, although I didn’t expect this book to end on the abrupt cliffhanger that it did, the dramatic tension was wrapped up quite neatly by the end, and I felt overall very satisfied as a result.

Bottom line, although the atmosphere of this book is relatively low-key in terms of action and adventure, it surprisingly evoked visceral reactions from me: I gasped in shock, laughed at relationship dramas, and sighed in sadness, and such moments of emotional gravity really made this book worth the read for me.

NYXIA was a wild ride of a novel with fresh, deeply-realized and engaging characters. I honestly couldn't put this down and can't wait for the sequel!

I highly enjoyed this book. I don’t think it’s one for a re-read, but the initial journey through was a thoroughly compelling one as characters were quite difficult to read, yet there was just enough room for me to suppose there was more character development to be unraveled, and I really liked that suspense.

Furthermore, although this book is highly reminiscent of The Hunger Games, it sets itself apart by establishing strong friendships early on in the book. Competitors must inevitably weed each other out as the tension continues to build between them, but the fact that they’re good friends from the start was a great point of conflict and the dilemma of their growing alliances heightened as a result.

Oh, and I liked the function of the villain in this story! We don’t know exactly why she behaves the way that she does, but that made her a pleasantly unpredictable (and quite frankly, scary) element of the plot. Not to mention, I really didn’t expect this book to end on the abrupt cliffhanger that it did, but the dramatic tension was wrapped up quite neatly by the end, and I felt overall satisfied as a result.

Bottom line, although the atmosphere of this book is relatively low-key in terms of adventure, it surprisingly evokes many visceral reactions from you; I found myself gasping in shock, laughing at relationship dramas, or sighing in sadness, and such moments of emotional gravity really made this book worth the read for me.

After reading so many books, it sometimes takes a while for a novel to grab me, but Nyxia had me after the first few pages. A premise which has enough about it to be interesting, but also a few holes which may in fact be intentional. Babel is recruiting teenagers to travel to a newly discovered planet, Eden, because the terrestrial life won't interact well with adults. There is something not quite right about this, but as we discover, there also might be something not quite right about Babel.

This novel, the first in a trilogy, takes place aboard the Babel spaceship as potential recruits battle it out to secure a place on Eden, and fortune for their families back on Earth. We experience this contest through the eyes of Emmett, a young guy from Detroit with a very sick mother and a father who has been grinding away in a dead-end job for his entire life.

All the contestants have similar backgrounds to Emmett, yet Scott Reintgen manages to write most of them with very distinct personalities, helping to create a dynamic cast with many different people to root for/against.

As the story goes on, more questions are raised, but just enough are answered to reveal that there is a lot more going on than meets the eye. The end is tantilising and I can't wait for the next installment!

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

"Nyxia" eBook was published in 2017 and was written by Scott Reintgen. Mr. Reintgen has published two novels. This is the first novel in his "The Nyxia Triad" series.

I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence and Mature Situations. The story is set in the not too distant future. The primary character is teen Emmett Atwater.

Atwater is one of 10 teens recruited by Babel corporation for a three year long deep space mission to the planet Eden. The teens have been recruited as the inhabitants of Eden will accept them far more easily than adults. Babel wants the teens to mine an extremely rare and valuable mineral found on Eden in abundance. But the journey to Eden is not easy.

Babel sets the teens to competing with one another in various challenges during the 6 month trip to Eden. Only 8 of the 10 will actually go to Eden and receive the benefits promised by Babel. Atwater finds much to distrust Babel about. Atwater must struggle to stay ahead of the other teens so that he will receive the promised rewards for the mission.

I enjoyed the 7 hours I spent reading this 386 page Young Adult Science Fiction novel. I liked the overall plot and the characters that are part of this story. I think that the cover art is supposed to represent the rare mineral Nyxia. Given the story, I think better art work could have been chosen. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

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 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.