interrowhimper's review against another edition
5.0
This was a lot of fun. It was reminiscent of Ender’s Game in all the good ways.
mdettmann's review against another edition
4.0
Reread review: Totally forgot how twisty this one was! I wanted more Eden and Adamite world building, but I get why it’s such a popular series with teens because it dives right into the action. Going to go in with the rest of the series now and excited to see how it all turns out.
In a not-so-distant future there's a planet called Eden that has a substance called Nyxia with powers beyond our comprehension. Aliens on that planet kill any who land, but revere children and the young. Emmett is one of 10 teens chosen to train and mine Nyxia for a company called Babel Communications, but only 8 will actually get to their final destination. Riches and opportunity beyond his wildest dreams, including cancer treatment for his mom, motivate Emmett as he faces his crew in simulations, Nyxia manipulation, and dark secrets aboard Genesis 11. What could possibly go wrong?
If you like stories where teens duke it out, this has lots of it! I thought it had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing and racing through until the end. I liked Emmett and felt some characters were fleshed out more than others, but figure we'll get more as the story progresses. This is part of a triad, so the first one leaves you hanging a lot.
In a not-so-distant future there's a planet called Eden that has a substance called Nyxia with powers beyond our comprehension. Aliens on that planet kill any who land, but revere children and the young. Emmett is one of 10 teens chosen to train and mine Nyxia for a company called Babel Communications, but only 8 will actually get to their final destination. Riches and opportunity beyond his wildest dreams, including cancer treatment for his mom, motivate Emmett as he faces his crew in simulations, Nyxia manipulation, and dark secrets aboard Genesis 11. What could possibly go wrong?
If you like stories where teens duke it out, this has lots of it! I thought it had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing and racing through until the end. I liked Emmett and felt some characters were fleshed out more than others, but figure we'll get more as the story progresses. This is part of a triad, so the first one leaves you hanging a lot.
kstring's review against another edition
3.0
Am interesting story that combined new tech, outer space, and a Red Rising-ish style competition for spots to go to a new planet. Huge shout out to the amazing audiobook reader, who made it hard to stop listening. Overall I liked the book (specifics at the end of this review), but now that I'm thinking about it, there are several holes in the story I wish had been filled in.
1. Nyxia. I still don't understand exactly what it is and what its limits are. Seems like it can fulfill any purpose and expand endlessly, but I'm not sure. I'm hoping the second book (coming out later this month) provides more clarity on that since the protagonists will be mining the stuff directly from the source.
2. The corporation--is it corrupt or not? We get hints, but nothing solid. Wish our protagonist had been a little more of a detective and not just a player/leader in the competition.
3. The image of the main character in my head was constantly changing. There were two conflicting personas: a dude who can win a fight against the seemingly unstoppable Russian kid, and a dude who beats the competition by the skin of his teeth. I liked reading about an underdog, but shouldn't all of his work have paid off more bountifully? I was expecting a Divergent-esque rise through the competition ranks and instead got a guy who works hard but can't seem to pull ahead. Were the other competitors training in their free time? Needed more info on the other competitors.
4. I wish the main character was more self-motivated to win. His dad kept saying he should want the spot for himself, but all the main character talked about was helping his family. I think he needed another motivation on top of that to seem fully committed.
5. The dash of romantic interest seemed entirely unnecessary when you're fighting for a secure future and a definite position on the team sent to the new planet.
On the plus side, there was a twist in the middle I wasn't expecting--a literal big reveal. I liked being surprised by that. I also liked the writing style and the development of a culture among all the competitors, who were brought from all corners of the globe. Each had a unique personality that contributed a certain dynamic to the team. I liked the tech. I liked the competition. There's a lot to like in this book. Can't wait to read the second one!
1. Nyxia. I still don't understand exactly what it is and what its limits are. Seems like it can fulfill any purpose and expand endlessly, but I'm not sure. I'm hoping the second book (coming out later this month) provides more clarity on that since the protagonists will be mining the stuff directly from the source.
2. The corporation--is it corrupt or not? We get hints, but nothing solid. Wish our protagonist had been a little more of a detective and not just a player/leader in the competition.
3. The image of the main character in my head was constantly changing. There were two conflicting personas: a dude who can win a fight against the seemingly unstoppable Russian kid, and a dude who beats the competition by the skin of his teeth. I liked reading about an underdog, but shouldn't all of his work have paid off more bountifully? I was expecting a Divergent-esque rise through the competition ranks and instead got a guy who works hard but can't seem to pull ahead. Were the other competitors training in their free time? Needed more info on the other competitors.
4. I wish the main character was more self-motivated to win. His dad kept saying he should want the spot for himself, but all the main character talked about was helping his family. I think he needed another motivation on top of that to seem fully committed.
5. The dash of romantic interest seemed entirely unnecessary when you're fighting for a secure future and a definite position on the team sent to the new planet.
On the plus side, there was a twist in the middle I wasn't expecting--a literal big reveal. I liked being surprised by that. I also liked the writing style and the development of a culture among all the competitors, who were brought from all corners of the globe. Each had a unique personality that contributed a certain dynamic to the team. I liked the tech. I liked the competition. There's a lot to like in this book. Can't wait to read the second one!
emperor_aj's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
jisnthome's review against another edition
5.0
It’s like the Hunger Games! But space. And Aliens. And the capitalism of this book revolves around material wealth, instead of making kids fight to the death for entertainment. (Kids fighting to the death is always a fun time)
lizclev's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
taylorreadsbooks's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this, I liked having a diverse set of characters. I pretty much knew when it would end I just didn't know HOW it would end and I need the next one now please.
full review to come. Thank you to Penguin's First to Read for giving me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
full review to come. Thank you to Penguin's First to Read for giving me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
alexisnasya's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5