While I loved Nyxia, Nyxia Unleashed took this series to an entirely different level. Reintgen kept the same emotional core as the first but drastically expanded the scope of the story. This addictive and fast-paced read made for a wonderful second installment in this excellent series.

Nyxia Unleashed picks up just moments after the finale of Nyxia. Now on the alien planet, Emmett, Morning, and the others must find their way to the first Babel base. Reintgen does an excellent job of slowly easing both his characters and the reader into this new environment. I loved how easy it was to picture this new world (and the slightly terrifying creatures inhabiting it).

The introduction of the Imago was handled beautifully. Their culture is so distinct and I liked that Reintgen didn’t make it a utopian society. The parallels drawn between their caste system and our societal structure were brilliant. Through the crew’s interactions with the Imago, Reintgen addresses colonialism and challenges the idea that any one culture (or belief system) is better than another. I also loved that the crew was a meritocracy. Morning was the best suited for leadership and so she was the leader. Simple as that. Fiction is a mirror to reality and Reintgen has a written a book that truly makes the reader think and question their own unconscious biases.

Nyxia Unleashed was so wonderfully diverse on every level. In some novels, it feels like authors shoehorn diverse characters in just to be able to say their novel is diverse. This was absolutely not the case here. Reintgen put such care, respect, and thought into each and every character. Plus I loved the focus on found family! The relationships that developed between characters were so heart-warming. And the banter was on-point. The romance between Emmett and Morning was absolutely adorable, I particularly loved the scenes with their chaperone. I also liked that the romance never took over the plot. It was definitely present but wasn’t the main focus.

The plot was so full of twists and turns. I loved how the suspense was drawn out, Reintgen is a master of timing reveals for maximum impact. I did think that the pacing was a bit slow at the beginning and a bit fast at the end. However, I still ended up reading the entire book in just a few hours because I didn’t want to put it down.

Nyxia Unleashed ends on a massive cliffhanger that’s slightly brutal. Needless to say, but I’m going to be anxiously awaiting Nyxia Uprising, the final book in the series. Nyxia Unleashed was an excellent installment to a wonderful series that’s full of non-stop action, found family, and out-of-this-world adventures. I’d recommend if you enjoy YA science fiction.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Yes, this is what everybody who read Nyxia has been waiting for! Our combined band of Genesis teens finally gets to land on Eden and use all that knowledge that Babel beat into them – including meeting the mysterious Adamites. And let me just get this out of the way so you know – yes, there is ANOTHER cliffhanger ending. But before we get there, there’s a deliciously twisty plot full of lots of surprises, excellent world-building, and all the characters we’ve come to know and love.

“I never asked for any of this. At the beginning, I fought hard against it. But now that they’re mine, now that I’m theirs, I’d do anything to keep them from being taken.
I can feel the weight of the night in the air. It’s like a sixth sense. Something instinctual that says we’re standing on the edge of events that will change the rest of our lives.
What happens next will change the fate of worlds.
We are the Genesis.”


There’s not as much of an Ender’s Game vibe in this one – for the most part, the competition is over, and everyone is working as a team with the mission of defeating Babel. If we’re keeping up the analogy, this does feel, in a way, much more Speaker for the Dead in the sense that we finally get to find out more about the Adamites. Yes, we finally get away from a lot of the ridiculous biblical Babel terminology (another pet peeve from the first book). They call themselves the Imago, and they’ve appointed several of their warriors to watch over the various teams as they mine the valuable nyxia, the teams’ sole reason for being on the planet. With their new friends, Emmett and the rest are finally able to start sorting out the lies they’ve been told. But Babel doesn’t know everything (OR DO THEY???), and the Imago are not the perfect allies that the Genesis team has hoped for. Can they untangle the lies from the truth before Babel’s true plan succeeds?

Emmett is such an amazing character. He’s a poor black teen from Detroit and the success of the team is partly based on the things he’s learned growing up there – about family and friends sticking together, and understanding what it’s like to have the goal line moved or obliterated even if you’ve followed all the rules. His love interest is Morning, a Latina teen from California, and the group’s leader. I absolutely loved her – she’s amazingly kickass while also being a thoughtful leader. While I complained about their relationship in the last book – I felt like it came out of nowhere – I was surprised how much I liked it in this book. As you might expect from a bunch of teens stranded in a life or death situation, there’s quite a few more pairings that form up in this book, including one m/m one. The characters feel detailed and distinct, and the world-building is also excellent, from the strange flora and fauna to the culture and history of the Imago.

“I was worried before,” he says. “I thought you were just another broken boy we needed to look after. But you’re not. You’re a weapon. Babel put you through the fire and you survived. They shouldn’t have made us this way. They’ll regret how sharp we are now that we’re aimed at them.”


There’s one particular line that struck me, as it’s referenced in the book at two important parts – “I am more than what you will make of me” – and it’s echoed in the quote above and many others like it in the book. Babel has taken these poor, broken, forgotten kids and reforged them, but rather than the loyal tools they’d intended (OR DID THEY???), they’re weapons whose only goal is taking down their makers. I think it’s a good reminder that while we may not always be in control of our situations that shape us, we can control what we do with it.

Overall, if you like YA sci-fi, just go read this series. As for me, I’ll be impatiently waiting for the third book!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I love so many things about these books...I love the mc Emmett which I dont normally love Male mc, but hes just amazing and real. Emmett is a poor boy from Detroit who signs up to go into space with 9 other teenagers to voyage to a new world to mine nyxia a new amazing material that changes with your mind. But Babel, the company sending them isnt what they seem and soon they are fighting to survive the dangers around every corner with no idea who is their ally.
Morning is the other MC though you don't get her POV that is just so badass, her scenes are brilliant. Her character is realistic and strong. The way her fight scenes happen blow me away every time!
The plot twists, deaths and happy scenes are all just perfect and flows so well. I can not wait to see they end up doing next to fight against Babel!

Emmett Atwater and the rest of the Genesis survivors must bond and work as a cohesive unit in order to survive this new world. As they work together to complete Babel's task, mine the Nyxia, they begin to learn more about the Adamites through their guides. This second installment of Scott Reintgen's trilogy has the characters torn between who to trust, Babel and the Adamites. Will these characters complete the mining task and be sent home, as Babel has stated? Or will the information gleaned from the Adamites alter their course? 

If you didn't know, I am sucker for Sci-Fi YA novels and Nyxia Unleashed did not disappoint. While many sequels are considered a "filler" or a bridge to the final book, this one was not. The novel shifts focus from the competition to the teens beginning to fulfill their contracts by mining Nyxia. After months, of head-to-head competition they are having to relearn how to work as close-knit unit and trust one another. I was ecstatic to see the intense action carried over from the first book. You learn so many new things about Eden and the characters that it makes this book almost impossible to put down. It was also great to read some chapters from different characters point of views. Anyone who is a fan of the Sci-Fi genre will enjoy this trilogy.  Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing my with an eARC. Get Nyxia Unleashed today online or in stores!

In this epic continuation to «Nyxia», following the events of the first book, Emmett Atwater and his crew have landed on the planet of Eden. But not under the circumstances they were hoping for. Their instructions were simple – play nice and extract Nyxia in great quantities, something they were trained to do on Genesis 11 spaceship.

Lies, intrigues, secrets, and betrayals continue in this sequel, as the crew tries to figure out their new alliances and set their allegiances.

Check my blog for the 5 cool things you can use Nyxia for!

Scott Reintgen has done it again. I wasn’t sure how Nyxia Unleashed could possibly live up to Nyxia, but it does. It really does.

Nyxia Unleashed picks up exactly where the first book left off, with Emmett and the others heading for Eden. Once there, they’re thrust into Babel’s main mission. However, new twists, turns, and secrets and revealed throughout the novel.

It was pretty cool to see the training and simulations from the first book actually put into action. The waterway and the mines make their reappearances, and I’m glad that we were introduced to them prior to this book. It really helps to show that Babel knew what type of world they were putting these kids into. While I liked their reappearance, I’m also glad that they weren’t a main focus of the novel. Nyxia could feel a tad bit repetitive with its challenges, but everything is fresh and new in Nyxia Unleashed.

One thing that’s new is the culture explored in this book. I don’t want to give much away, but there’s a long section of the novel where the crew gets to explore this alien civilization as honored guests. It was a truly wonderful section, especially when you consider that each of the teens came from diverse cultural backgrounds. The lovely name of the planet (which isn’t Eden, Babel!) is revealed, along with its cultural significance, which I found fascinating.

The romance between Emmett and Morning is quite stable and wholesome. With the extremely high stakes and dangers, it’s easy to forget that these are young teens with normal teen hormones and emotions. The many romances that blossom up within the crew feel pretty natural and organic. I love the way that Emmett and Morning care for and defend each other, and also how the other characters react to their relationship. It makes the characters really seem like the teens they are.

The book isn’t all romance and culture though. There’s plenty of danger, both on the planet and off of it. Loyalties and trusts are tested. New and old faces make appearances. Lives will be lost. There’s honestly a whirlwind of things going on, with so many things to love, and so many to hate as well. (Not the book itself, but the characters and forces within it!)

The one thing I didn’t like very much were the chapters that weren’t from Emmett’s point of view. They sort of took me out of the story a little bit, even though they weren’t frequent at all. I think that book one only had one of these chapters, but this one had at least 3 or 4. Again, it’s not a big deal, and those sections add GREATLY to the story, but I’m not 100% in favor of them. At least they were clearly marked.

All in all, I greatly enjoyed Nyxia Unleashed. The stakes were higher than ever, and they’ll be even higher in the next book, Nyxia Uprising, which releases in April 2019. It’s a long time to wait, but I’m sure that it’ll be an amazing conclusion to the series. I honestly have no clue how this series might end, so I’m anxiously awaiting it!

This sequel starts out with our main character Emmett landing on a new planet with the other chosen teenagers from the Genesis crew. Despite knowing something just isnt right, they decide to keep working for Babel mining Nyxia while the bide their time and figure out whats really going on. Meanwhile we get to explore a whole new world and meet the inhabitants. The pace wasnt as intense as the first book, but I enjoyed getting to learn about the Adamites culture and the variety of deadly creatures that live on the planet.

The diversity among the characters was fantastic. We get people from all over the world, but having such a huge cast means we wont get to know all of them well. We do get a couple extra perspectives in this book. One of them felt pretty pointless since we only get one chapter and it didnt explain much, but it might make more sense in the third novel. I thought the other point of view was great. We get to know one of the LGBT+ characters better and we also get important information about whats going on Babels spaceship. Even though we get a bit of Anton perspective I would have loved seeing more of his relationship with Alex.

I was moved by what Emmett did for Axis. Emmetts friendship with Jaime, Longwei and Alex was awesome. I thought it felt very authentic. Emmett also has a thing going on with my queen Morning that I really enjoyed. I loved Mornings wit and cunning. Her battle and strategy skills are phenomenal. She's always saving Emmett instead of the other way around. I just couldnt get enough of her. Another character that I loved was Longwei. I thought he had some wonderful character development and I cant wait to see his role in the next book. I also have to mention Speaker, one of the Adamite representatives. I just really liked him and though he was interesting to read about.

I love getting to explore a whole new world. The bigger the differences between our world and the new world the more excited I get. Despite some of the world building elements not quite connecting I still really enjoyed the concept. I would have liked more info about how the language barrier was overcome, but the I found the mysterious nyxia substance fascinating. Not knowing what to expect from the Babel corporation and the Adamites made for an intriguing plot. The reveals werent as mind blowing as the first book, but I was still highly entertained. If you love scifi and diveristy you need to pick up this incredible series. Ill definitely be reading the last book in this trilogy as soon as it comes out.

Review also posted on Kobo

Return to Eden and our intrepid heroes from Genesis 11 and Genesis 12 in Scott Reintgen’s Nyxia Unleashed, the second installment in his Nyxia Triad series. Nyxia Unleashed delivers on a lot of what was promised in Nyxia – namely, ALIENS – but it also manages to fall short in a few ways.

Nyxia is The Hunger Games meets Ender’s Game meets Red Rising. Ten children are plucked from poverty by a giant, stereotypically evil corporation who somehow managed to secretly discover an inhabitable planet out in the far reaches of space, populated by sentient beings, and royally screw it up. Nyxia Unleashed picks up from the moment we left off in the first book, with Emmett plummeting to the planet after being forced to fight Roathy for his chance at a lifetime of wealth.

Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t take long to realize that Babel lied, more than the Genesis kids realize. Basically, Babel has lied about everything – sending them home, their entire purpose for the mission, the alien species…everything. In this way, Babel becomes an even more stereotypically evil corporation, one that must now be defeated at all costs. The problem with this is that Babel is – at least by the end of this book – seemingly undefeatable. An enemy that is all-knowing and all-powerful is boring, and we can only hope that Anton’s actions in the closing pages of the book will have some kind of effect on the plot, otherwise what even is the point?

Nyxia Unleashed delivers on a lot of promises from the first book. Almost the entirety of the action takes place on Eden – actually, Magnia, because isn’t it just white people’s humanity’s way, to name something that already has a name – and there are a lot of descriptions of the local wildlife, the dominant species (called the Adamites by Babel, they are actually called the Imago), and their cities and technology. The planet has two moons, and it changes names dependent on the season. A lot of the wildlife merged, but there are some animals called Primes that are still in their original form. It’s actually quite fascinating, although a lot still relies heavily on ever-present, all-powerful vibranium nyxia, the answer to questions you haven’t even thought of yet.

The plot is also much more interesting as we delve further into the series. Nyxia got a little repetitive with the constant competition, but as soon as the kids land on Eden Magnia, we learn that something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Uncovering Babel’s lies, and in turn the deceptions of the Imago, was a way more thrilling read than paging through simulated battles and whatever drama was happening on the ship.

Unfortunately, the characters continue to suffer. Reintgen gets major props for a multi-national cast of characters; the Genesis kids were chosen from countries all over the world. While the main characters are American, Emmett is a black boy from Detroit and Morning is a Latinx from California, and the white characters are from more ethnically homogeneous countries like Sweden. In Nyxia Unleashed, we learn that two of the boys from Genesis 12 – Anton and Alex (who we sadly know very little about, since main POV character Emmett was on a different ship) – are in a relationship, which is refreshing after the astonishing heteronormativity of the first book. Even though there’s a lot of diversity, the characters themselves lack a lot of depth and development. We can see growth in them – especially in Jaime and Longwei – but we know so little about them as people that the losses we suffer aren’t felt the way they should be.

I did enjoy Nyxia Unleashed, as I enjoyed Nyxia. What it lacks in depth, it makes up for in plot and spectacle. I’m looking forward to the conclusion – Nyxia Uprising – because I just want to know what the heck is going on! Both of these were pretty quick reads – perfect for summer!

I loved the first book. The world building, the character development, the twist and turns that pop up along the way, and let’s not forget the action of it all. I remember finishing Nyxia last year and thinking, “Wow. I can’t wait to see what happens next.” However, this story didn’t give me that same feeling. I still enjoyed the story, but I felt like it went a bit slower than its predecessor. The crew is finally on Eden and get to meet the Adamites, but they know that something isn’t right. They know that Babel (the people who sent them to Eden to mine Nyxia) isn’t what they claim to be and can’t be trusted. However, what about the Adamites? Pretty soon this group is left wondering not only what the game is, but how they will manage to survive and get home back to earth.

The beginning was a bit slow for me. Maybe because it had been so long since I read the first book. It took a little bit to get my memory up to speed as to what happened and who was who. Once the team makes contact with the Adamite/Imago people, things start to pick up a bit more. You get the sense that they are putting up a front, and playing a role. You don’t know what they are hiding and whether or not the characters should trust them. It wasn’t until the last third of the book that I found myself glued to the pages because the story started to get a bit crazy (in a good way) and you were left scrambling trying to fit all the pieces together.

In this book we not only follow the main character Emmett, but we also follow Anton as he tries to help all the kids of Genesis make it off of Eden alive. During the first book these kids were pitted against each other every step of the way in order to make it to Eden, once they realize the truth about Babel and that they are on their own, they start to trust and rely on each other. So it was really great seeing them all work together towards their common enemy.

While I had a rough start with this story, it did pick up pace for me. Again, maybe my disconnect is because it’s been so long since I was in that mindset of being on the ship. Maybe it’s the fact that I tend to be a stand-alone kinda girl and lose interest in a series quickly. I’m still interested to know what happens with these characters. Do they make it off of the alien planet? What of the Imago people? There’s all just so much on the table and it’s down to the finish line for these teenagers who have been stranded up on an alien planet. I wonder how it will all end for them.

I finished Nyxia Unleashed just in time for release day. If you read Nyxia, then you know about THAT ending. Nyxia Unleashed starts right off with crazy action as Emmett and the other surviving members of Genesis 11 & 12 land on the planet Eden. They meet crazy dangers, slowly get to know a few Adamite emissaries, and get to experience the Adamite city of Sevenset. All the while, they are wary of Babel’s true plans for them (and they are right to feel that way). This book also ends on the cusp of huge changes and surprises.
.
I loved how quickly the plot and action moved all while still showing the way all the kids are coping with what happened in Nyxia. The Adamites were so different from what I imagined. I loved all the twists and turns in this, especially right at the end. I think the only thing that I would have liked more info on is the Adamite history. Nyxia Unleashed was great for middle book...there was enough action and plot to prepare us for an explosive third novel.
.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for this fantastic YA sci-fi

Readers interested in this fast-paced TA sf series should know that this volume jets 0-60 moments after volume one came to its crashing climax. And there is no slowdown.

In this second installment, we move away from the by-now familiar gladiator teens pitted against each other by evil government trope (yay!) as those who survived volume one land on the planet below. They have been trained to mine nyxia, and to fight, and to manage tech via the weird substance called nyxia, which we learn more about as the story progresses.

We also meet the Imago, or "Adamites" (the name the Evil Corporation has imposed on the native people, rather like the Europeans imposed "Indians" on the North Americans who lived there first) and get some intriguing glimpses into their culture.

We also begin to discover that everyone is lying to the kids. Why are they really there? Why did the Imago made a treaty with Evil Babel, to let them mine the nyxia?

The kids, survivors all, are determined to figure out what's going on and take their fates into their own hands, but the only way to do that is to stick together.

Reintgen is wonderful at characterization as well as bloody, hard action. The girls and boys are individuals, survivors, but not all are cynics or nihilists. Hope and faith are all some of them have, as well as each other. Morning is a terrific captain--I love her ferocity. I also love the way that she and Emmet are able to trade off leadership as needed. Everyone's strength is valued.

Not that they all get along. There's a thread about a lethal rivalry in the first book that runs through this one, pumping up the tension even more.

We get another cinematic, high-intensity climax, and then . . . the last line whams us with yet another surprise.

This is one of those rare books where I think the now-fashionable-in-YA first person present tense works, because we don't get a lot of flashbacks. We land running and never stop, which the present tense underscores. Most chapters are narrated by Emmet, but we do take some sidesteps to one of my favorite characters, Anton (if Anton doesn't make it, I will reach through the screen and strangle you, Scott Reintgen!), and we get a single glimpse into the Babel side of the story.

Altogether a terrific read, leaving me eager for volume three.

TL;DR: The Nyxia series is unique and fresh among YA books, delivering a world and story that feel entirely new and relevant. In book 2, the characters and themes have grown to encompass a larger universe, so it never bores. The new setting is amazing, filled with awesome creatures and a fascinating alien people. Those who read the first book will be extremely satisfied.

If you like sci-fi like the Red Rising series or if you were a Hunger Games fan or if you’re just looking for something different that won’t disappoint, definitely pick up this series.

(Note for booklr: It’s a YA series that doesn’t feature romance as the main plot, has a black male lead, has a mainly minority cast, and features at least one gay could, so basically everything you’ve all been asking for. Additionally, we have relevant themes about class, race, age, and masculinity.)

This series is consistently, truly, and delightfully surprising. It is ne the surface a sci-fi novel, walking the same path as Red Rising or similar series set on alien planets. However, at its heart, it is a much deeper discussion of human nature, of our worst fears and best hopes for our kind as we begin to step out into an innocent and frightening universe.

Eden and the Adamites that were introduced in the first novel by Babels’ narrative as terrifying and savage are explored in the novel in such a constantly fascinating and ever-deepening way. Each new creature, landscape, city, etc. introduced was unique and fresh and multidimensional, leading to an honest and real portrayal of a planet and a people that lets the reader believe and wonder and imagine.

The characters are hardened now compared to the children that entered the first book, leading to some true bad-assery. We saw at the end of book 1, that they had become a family and this continues to grow and change in book 2. What is intriguing is the age and reality of these characters. It is impossible to ignore that this diverse cast is just like people we know; to put yourself in those shoes is just oo easy.

I particularly enjoy the them of Emmett and music. In the same way of Guardians of the Galaxy, the musical references tie this crazy fantastic world into our time and to earth, grounding it. I love that we always see Morning as the unrivaled leader, completely competent and unchallenged despite the strength and masculinity of some members of her team. And I loved watching her relationship with Emmett because it was so strong and so important to their development but also not a main spotlighted plot or theme.

Again, I see certain similarities to the Hunger Games series in that this is a book that looks at dark themes and plots with a very adult eye, refusing to talk down to its younger readers. It also does so in a way that can be easily missed for all the wonder and color of its plot.

Because of that this book is truly an entertaining read. it’s fast-paced but lingers in the right places to let you savor the alien planet. It’s twisting and turning in way that even an avid reader will be surprised by. It’s truly something new.

I adore this series and wish it would get more credit. I highly encourage everyone to give it a shot.

I received this ARC from Netgalley.

This sequel was actually a whole lot different than the first book, and I was happy about that (even though I really loved Nyxia). It felt less like a continuation and more like a whole new story—which made sense since the Genesis kids were now on a whole new planet. Read on to find out why I loved it…

What Fed My Addiction:

A family.
The competition aspect of the first book was completely gone in book two, and I was very happy about that since it was my least favorite part of book one. Not only was there no more direct competition (with points and such), but the whole group came together as one. Emmett talks about Genesis as his family, and that’s truly how they feel. With one minor exception, the group comes together and bonds in an extraordinary way. I found myself loving each and every character.

Emmett.
Once again, Emmett’s voice shines in this book. I love that he’s the MC, but he’s actually not the star of the show—he’s constantly overshadowed by Morning. She’s the real leader of the group, and he knows it. And he’s not threatened by it, which is pretty awesome. Morning and Emmett’s romance was a definite positive for me in this book, and I loved that we got to see Morning’s incredible strengths through Emmett’s eyes (he’s sort of in awe of her—and rightfully so).

The Adamites.
We get a lot of new information about the Adamites in this book, and we see Emmett trying to process what he’s been told about them versus the reality. I love that Emmett’s assumptions and beliefs about them are all challenged. The tone is set right from the beginning when the kids of Genesis learn that “Adamites” aren’t even the natives’ proper name—it’s just something Babel has called them. Emmett (and the others) start to appreciate how misdirected they’ve been about the culture of the people on this new planet.

Some interesting twists.
The story didn’t end up going where I expected it to, and there were quite a few twists along the way!

What Left Me Hungry for More:

Missed opportunity?
In book one Emmett and friends spent so much time preparing for dangerous creatures and more on Eden—I was expecting the planet to be incredibly dangerous. And, granted, people talked like that was the case, but we saw very little actual evidence of that. There were a few minor run-ins with the local wildlife, but that was it. I kept waiting for something big to happen with that, but it never did. The book dealt a lot more with the political machinations than the dangers of the planet itself. I couldn’t help but think that this was a bit of a missed opportunity. But this was a pretty minor thing.

Overall, I thought this was a very solid sequel that left me eager for book three. I’m excited to see where Reintgen takes us next!! I give it 4.5/5 Stars.

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Rockstar Book Tours and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

Nyxia Unleashed by Scott Reintgen is the second book in the young adult science fiction fantasy The Nyxia Triad series. In the first book of the series the Babel Corporation had recruited ten teens including Emmett Atwater. The group was from all around the world and didn’t know why they had been recruited but when offered a contract with the company that would change not only their own lives but their families they had to accept.

The contract was offered to get the recruits to leave Earth and travel to a distant planet called Eden in order to mine for Nyxia. The inhabitants of the planet would only welcome children to their home so the teens were needed to seek out the new resource for Babel. The catch..only eight of them would make the cut to call the new planet home and they had to prove themselves all along the journey.

Now Nyxia Unleashed has picked back up with Emmett and the other survivors of the journey right after the end of the first book. Those that have made it to the distant planet are still weary of Babel and their broken promises but now have found that the Adamite’s have their own agenda. Being stuck between Babel and the Adamites the group wonders if any will be able to make it out alive and back home.

Looking back at starting this series I had thought it sort of reminded me to other books out there but now after finishing the second I can safely say it has completely broke out of the mold and has captured a life all of it’s own. I did think though that to me the characters still don’t really stand out and have each of their own personalities shine, they instead seem to be overshadowed by the action going on to where I need to remind myself who is who sometimes. Perhaps that’s just me though but speaking of the action… I have really enjoyed how much the series has changed and progressed from book to book, definitely not stuck in a rut. I’ll definitely also be waiting to see what happens in the story next.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this young adult sci-fi eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  While I try to post no spoilers, if ye haven’t read the first book then ye might want to skip this post. If ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .

nyxia unleashed (Scott Reintgen)

Title: nyxia unleashed

Author: Scott Reintgen

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: Tomorrow, July 17, 2018!!! (hardback/e-book)

ISBN: 978-0399556838

Source: NetGalley

This be the fourth book in me e-Arc Extravaganza Challenge wherein I attempt to read 5 books before their July 17th release date.  Only one to go.  Arrr!

I absolutely loved the first book and was so excited to read this one.  It be the middle book in the Nyxia Triad and for a book two, this was extremely fun.  I was easily sucked back into the world of the Babel corporation and loved reading more of the adventures of Emmett Atwater and crew.

While this book clocks in at 400 pages, I read it in one sitting and the time whooshed by.  I absolutely love the nyxia substance and its capabilities.  Many of the crew was upset that book one took place in a space ship and wanted to see what the alien planet was like.  Well ye get yer chance here.

I thought the planet of Eden had some excellent wildlife.  That is the part that felt most alien and different.  I really want to see pictures of a century.  I don't want to meet one in person.  Sadly I thought the Adamites were hardly alien at all.  They be humanoid and their culture felt too Earth-like.  I found the ability of the two groups to mix so easily to be unrealistic.  I mean the humans and aliens could even eat the same food!  Also the author described one bridge as "man-made."  The humans didn't make it!

But I didn't let it bother me too much because the plot was fast and engaging.  I loved the politics between the two cultures.  I loved seeing the relationships of the young adult humans grow and change.  I still think Emmett is an awesome character.

This book still could have used more nyxia but I thought the set-up for the next book rocks and I can't wait to read it.

So lastly . . .

Thank you Crown Books for Young Readers!

Goodread's website has this to say about the novel:

Emmett Atwater thought Babel’s game sounded easy. Get points. Get paid. Go home. But it didn’t take long for him to learn that Babel’s competition was full of broken promises, none darker or more damaging than the last one.

Now Emmett and the rest of the Genesis survivors must rally and forge their own path through a new world. Their mission from Babel is simple: extract nyxia, the most valuable material in the universe, and play nice with the indigenous Adamite population.

But Emmett and the others quickly realize they are caught between two powerful forces—Babel and the Adamites—with clashing desires. Will the Genesis team make it out alive before it’s too late?

To visit the author’s website go to:

Scott Reintgen - Author

To buy the novel go to:

nyxia unleashed - Book

To add to Goodreads go to:

Yer Ports for Plunder List

Previous Log Entries for this Author

nyxia (On the Horizon – Young Adult Sci-Fi eArc)

First of all, thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of Nyxia Unleashed by Scott Reintgen. Nyxia was one of my favorite book discoveries for 2017, and now I’m delighted to say that the sequel did not disappoint. In fact, I extol its virtues and the trilogy as a whole to anyone reading this. That’s how much regard and faith I have in it, so please give it a shot if you haven’t already.

Obviously, if you haven’t read Nyxia, don’t continue reading this review because there are spoilers for the first book all up in this.

Nyxia Unleashed takes place seconds after the events of the first, with Emmett Atwater and the other Genesis victors hurtling down toward the planet Eden. Emmett continues to be an amazing protagonist with a definitive and much-needed voice in YA: he is a teenaged POC whose family struggles with poverty, which is a key reason why Babel, a shady corporation, chose Emmett and the other teenaged kids from around the globe to achieve their less than altruistic endeavors.

Upon landing on Eden, Emmett, Morning, Anton, Jaime, and the others have to deal with the immediate aftermath of Nyxia, where some of them were forced to fight and kill other Genesis members to make it down to the planet alive. Reintgen focuses on communication between the characters, something many authors fail to achieve with teenage characters especially for reasons I cannot fathom. Having Emmett’s POV there to add a deeper layer of realistic anger and gray morality was a bonus: a person can understand why someone else did what they had to do while being enraged by the choice.

It was this same exchange between the characters that made me realize I didn’t fully buy Emmett and Morning as a couple in Nyxia. Individually, their characters are amazing, and Morning is such a nuanced Latinx female character, tough and disciplined but also vulnerable and easy to joke with. Emmett’s continued interactions with her throughout Nyxia Unleashed managed to convince me. What helped immensely was how much Team Genesis was able to work together throughout the book, establishing a found family and pinpointing their real enemy as being Babel rather than being forced to view each other as obstacles to be eliminated. Being able to trust and rely on each other made certain character motivations clearer, particularly Morning and Emmett’s reciprocating feelings.

I loved also that Reintgen delved into Anton’s POV and focused on his relationship with Alex. These two became some new favs, and I found that it was explicit that they were in a gay relationship without anything becoming stereotypical or heavy-handed. They better reunite in the third book, or I will riot. Also hoping Reintgen knows about and avoids the “Bury Your Gays” trope, and if not, someone please tell him about “Resurrect Your Gays” immediately.

In the meantime, though, Anton’s own storyline was brilliant. I love this badass cosmonaut! And that team-up, wow. I won’t spoil it, but you guys are in for a treat.

Even with being told in first-person POV, Anton’s voice was still distinct from Emmett’s, something I was relieved to see because YA authors tend to struggle with multiple first-person POVs in that respect a lot. I don’t know about you, but it’s agonizing to be inside many characters’ heads and discovering they sound exactly the same. In times like those, I’d just rather the whole thing be written in third-person limited, my real preference, but maybe that’s just me. Fortunately, Reintgen handles his characters with surety and finesse, probably because he loves and respects them so much, and he respects the readers who could see themselves as certain characters.

Meeting and learning about the Adamites (real name: Imago) and their world at last was fascinating. Reintgen gave us a unique alien culture, focusing also on how to treat a different culture with respect, starting with calling them and their planet by their native names, not by the assignments that Babel gave them. It’s a smooth and well-represented way of condemning colonization and exploitation. I’d really like to get inside of Reintgen’s head about how he named the world, its moons, and the alien characters—Imago, Speaker, Bally, Magnia, etc.—because his choices were interesting.

Of course, the unknown of Babel’s real end goal and whether Team Genesis can rely on the Imago, allying with them over Babel, is what compels the tension throughout the novel. While not as strong as the tension and high stakes in Nyxia, this sophomore novel develops relationships in a steadier way and presents new mysteries for the next book to unravel, like the fates of certain failed Genesis team members.

The only part where the novel’s pace dragged for me was at the transition between the middle and the end, where Emmett and the others make their way through the final rings of Sevenset and meet one of the Daughters. I thought there was a bit too much exposition there on revealing truths and planning next moves that slowed the pace and dissipated tension and suspicion too quickly, making it not as strong of a book as its predecessor.

However, two things stand out at making it up: Emmett and Team Genesis’ treatment of the Imago in the sixth ring—the celebratory spitting in the face of both systematic oppression and how people condemn the impoverished— and that explosive ending (I’m still reeling from it). There’s no question that the next book is going to be a doozy.

However, as good a bean as Reintgen is, I’m still so worried about what he’s going to put us through because he is not afraid of killing off characters. I mean, he’s no George R. R. Martin, but still. So, I’m just going to sit here and brace myself and hold these books close and tell myself that everything is going to be fine. Because it is!

It is, dammit!

I enjoyed this book better than the first one. It pulled me right away into the story. Emmett definitely matures more in this installment and it’s nice to see his friendships not only grow but blossom into a family-like unit. People are lost along the way, which is sad, but it was cool to get to see the Adamites up close and walk through their society. The ending was a bit of a shocker- definitely adding the third book to my TBR!

Could Scott Reintgen really write a book as good as Nyxia? Would Nyxia Unleashed suffer from "second book syndrome"? Or would Nyxia Unleashed be just as good, if not better than Nyxia?

These are the questions we had ever since we heard about the upcoming "Nyxia Unleashed" release. Well, guess what...Nyxia Unleashed was TERRIFIC!!! It was EXTRAORDINARY!!! If you loved Nyxia you’re going to LOVE Nyxia Unleashed!!!

The story begins where the kids land on the planet, Magnia. The protagonist in this, Emmett, is such an amazing character! In fact both main characters, Emmett & Morning (I totally ship them) were amazing main characters! Morning was my favorite character. But I like many of the characters in this story! They all come from very different backgrounds, that have made them who they are. They develop friendships and come to rely on each other like a family. Scott Reintgen did an excellent job with his characters.

But he also did an amazing job with world building. Being on another planet, seeing the wildlife, it’s dangers and it’s beauty. It was all fascinating. Actually learning more about all the things Nyxia could do was fascinating too.

I’m trying not to say too much here. So I’ll just say, It’s a wonderful YA SciFi book! I highly recommend it!!! Now I’ll be eagerly anticipating book 3!!!

Wow! This YA Sci-fi sequel takes the dynamic and multicultural crew formed in the first book planet-side to a new adventure. Impressive world-building, difficult themes, and a few twists and turns in the storyline make this novel a must-read for anyone who enjoyed the first one. It's fast-paced and flows well too. I'm looking forward to the third installment! For YA, Sci-fi, and dystopia fans. Breathtakingly beautiful cover as well.

Net Galley Feedback

I devoured this book in one sitting. When I requested this book on NetGalley, I had no idea that it was the second in a series - shame on me really for not looking on Goodreads first, so when I realized my mistake I immediately took to Amazon and purchased the first book. The first book had its issues, (being in space, but no real feeling of ACTUALLY being in space. About Aliens, little alien action, etc) and in my opinion this book fixed all the issues I had with the first.

We finally get to see the Genesis crews down on an alien planet! Eden - or as the inhabitants call it Magnia. Reintgen did such an excellent job building this alien world. All the way down to the flora/fauna that are found on it. He spins a detailed history of how the fauna were before the two moons existed, and how having a second moon drastically changed the animals hunting, and survival patterns. Few pack species remain after gaining a second moon. He gives you history into the Adamites - or Imago as they call themselves. I have zero complaints with the world building.

Action starts almost straight away. You find out who was tasked to kill the other two crew members who failed the tests, etc. Unleashed is back to back action, and the lies and mystery are unraveling quickly.

My biggest complaint was how when the kids found something that didn’t add up they didn’t ask the Imago.

I was blown away by this second book. I honestly wish some of this had been in the first book, and the first books events had been condensed down a BUNCH. Usually middle books suffer in series, but IMO this was the better of the two.

This book releases July 17th 2018! If you’ve read the first and loved it I truly believe you will love this one as well!!