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 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.

This book was just not my cup of tea and I was not able to finish it. Thank you for this opportunity, though!

Scott Reintgen's debut young adult novel, Nyxia, is a high-stakes thrill-ride full of compelling characters and unforgiving moments. While at times it can feel like a pretty slow burn the book ultimately shocks and surprises at all the right spots. It is easily one of the year's best science fiction novels an it sets up what is undoubtedly going to be quite the epic trilogy.

Nyxia is told primarily from the point of view of a young man named Emmett who is taking part in a secretive sort of competition. Emmett along with a number of other young people have been recruited to take part in an expedition to a far off planet -- something that most people on Earth don't even realize is possible. The book's title takes it's name from a mysterious material also called Nyxia which Emmett and the others are trained to use and manipulate.

The training doubles as a competition with the various teenagers essentially trying to eliminate one another in order to secure their position in the expedition. Those who are sent to the enigmatic planet Eden will be rewarded with enough money to support themselves and their families for generations. It's something that Emmett - and all of the others - desperately need.

Nyxia was not always the book I expected it would be when I first decided to read it. It was a lot like an odd blend between Ender's Game and the Hunger Games rather than a book about exploring space or this new alien world. But I liked what Reintgen did with the story. When the pacing started to slow down something big inevitably always happened and the 'game' so to speak was changed once again. 

Readers should prepare themselves for some pretty dark moments as Nyxia is not the sort of book that pulls it's punches. There are some pretty big moments and a lot of unexpected twists. There are also a lot of unexplained mysteries that will surely come into play in later volumes.

Now, that's not to say that Nyxia doesn't tell a fairly complete story.

The main focus of this book is the competition between Emmett and the others. The book does a good job of introducing Emmett and showing us both his strengths and weaknesses. As the story progresses he gets closer to his competitors, forming strong friendships with some of them and fierce rivalries with others. And by the end you have a better idea of what's going to happen as they proceed to the next stage of the expedition. 

Weirdly the Nyxia was the least interesting part of the story for me. I'm sure it'll come into play more in later books but there was just a lot more going on that caught my attention. I want to know the mysteries of the company that brought Emmett and the others out into space. I want to know the secrets of Eden. The Nyxia is sort of a means to an end when it comes to creating the situations that Emmett and the others found themselves in. But there's clearly going to be more to it once the kids hit the ground on Eden.

Luckily the second book in the series, Nyxia Unleashed, is coming out this summer!

Nyxia is one of my favorite young adult science fiction books from this year. The pacing lost me a couple of times but ultimately the story won me over. Emmett is an at times flawed but always determined main character and he's the perfect lead for this story. And the story itself is full of mysteries that leave the reader wanting more. Nyxia is a must read for young adult sci-fi fans!

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A REVIEW COPY WAS PROVIDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS REVIEW