Review: Nyxia by Scott Reintgen

NYXIA

The Nyxia Triad, Book One

 by Scott Reintgen

Crown Books for Young Readers

YA Science Fiction

384 pages

 ages 10 and up

Emmett Atwater isn’t just leaving Detroit; he’s leaving Earth. Why the Babel Corporation recruited him is a mystery, but the number of zeroes on their contract has him boarding their lightship and hoping to return to Earth with enough money to take care of his family.

Forever.

Before long, Emmett discovers that he is one of ten recruits, all of whom have troubled pasts and are a long way from home. Now each recruit must earn the right to travel down to the planet of Eden—a planet that Babel has kept hidden—where they will mine a substance called Nyxia that has quietly become the most valuable material in the universe.

But Babel’s ship is full of secrets. And Emmett will face the ultimate choice: win the fortune at any cost, or find a way to fight that won’t forever compromise what it means to be human. 

 MY TIDBITS

With a nod towards Ender's Game, this tale rockets into high-level adrenaline scenes with characters, who hit home and refuse to leave even after the last page.

Emmett is a teen from rough circumstances in Detroit, and he has no idea what he's about to get himself into. But then, the other recruits for a space voyage to a planet named Eden aren't any wise than him. The promise of money—lots of it—is all that counts for these kids, who want nothing more than to save themselves and their families. Soon, Emmett discovers that the money is well-earned as he enters a year long competition—the same time it takes for the space ship to travel to the planet—in which the 'best' of them are chosen to continue with the mission. This competition is much worse than it sounds. . .but then, the corporation seems to be keeping all sorts of secrets. Deadly ones.

This is a thrilling book from start to finish. Emmett's introduced with all the normality of an average teen, but one who is accustom to struggling for every step in life. He wants nothing more than to find a way to bring his family out of their dire, financial state, and it's this selfless attitude along with his desire to fight, which make him so easy to cheer for. But he isn't alone. The characters are set against each other, each battling to their limits to reach their goals. Still, the author manages to find a heartening balance between heartless competition and friendship, which make this an inspiring read. The relationships and situations create food for thought, and make every character stand as their own pillar in the plot.

Tension and high-stakes greet from every chapter. It's not a light book but holds moments of aggression and violence. Still, there's enough moments of sacrifice, compassion and loyalty to balance out the more raw moments. It's the type of read which holds edge-of-the-seat tension, unexpected twists, hidden layers of intrigue and tons of hope as well.

This is a read science fiction and fantasy friends are sure to devour.

I received a complimentary copy through Blogging for Books.



And here he is. . .

Scott Reintgen is the author of the Nyxia Triad series. His former career as a teacher of English and creative writing in diverse urban communities in North Carolina taught him the difficult lesson that inspiration isn’t equally accessible to everyone. So he set out to write a novel for the front-row sleepers and back-row dreamers in his classes. He hopes that his former students see themselves, vibrant and on the page, in characters like Emmett. You can follow him on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter at @Scott_Thought.