rheamsbrittany's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great book!! And the ending. UGH! I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. Didn’t see the bit right before the very end coming but still what a cliffhanger. I can’t wait for the 2nd book. The premise is great. Emmett is a young black guy who’s never had much but if chosen to be a pair of something new and BIG but he’s gotta fight for it. I loved all the characters and the narrator was awesome. I really felt all the characters. Good job! This only took a day to read but I finished feeling like I really knew people and I’m just excited to see where this takes them.
ksoillace's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lexandherbooks's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jennneely82's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bolynne's review against another edition
5.0
4.75 rounded up.
****I received a copy of this ARC through Penguin's FirstToRead Program****
REALLY good Sci-fi here.
Lets start with all the stuff I LOVED about it:
1. The characters. The bread-and-butter of a good series. The diversity here was wonderful as well, with more POC than white characters and they were (for the most part, I will get into this later) all very well-developed. My favorite would have to be Bilal, the sweet Arabic boy who I just want to find happiness so badly.
2. The nyxia itself. God damn do I love how complex this substance is and all the things it can do AND how much is still not known about it.
3. The academy setting. I don't know why people keep saying nothing happens in this book. SO MUCH goes on during all of these training days! Yes, there is a lot of internal progression and character development, but it isn't lile nothing separates each day from the next. The progression is NATURAL. These kids aren't superhuman and sprout 8packs after a week. (Emmett doesn't mention his abs developing until after day 100). I LIKE character driven books, and I LIKE the academy setting. Probably my favorite setting to read in (academies/schools of any sort, really).
Now onto the few things I didn't like as much:
1. The way Kaya was used at some point as a prop simply to further Emmett's character arc. This happens to often, especially in Sci-Fi and YA in general, that I just sigh and shake my head.
2. The way Longwei especially was stereotyped as the "over-achieving, single-mindedly focused on personal success" Chinese kid. I feel like with the other characters we got at least some stereotype-breaking going on, but his character seemed flat and one-dimensional; a missed opportunity.
3. There were maaaybe a few too many parallels to Red Rising, but I'm not sure how much I minded... Not going to go into detail here, read it yo'self.
Now to sit not-so-patiently wait for the next books in the series.
****I received a copy of this ARC through Penguin's FirstToRead Program****
REALLY good Sci-fi here.
Lets start with all the stuff I LOVED about it:
1. The characters. The bread-and-butter of a good series. The diversity here was wonderful as well, with more POC than white characters and they were (for the most part, I will get into this later) all very well-developed. My favorite would have to be Bilal, the sweet Arabic boy who I just want to find happiness so badly.
2. The nyxia itself. God damn do I love how complex this substance is and all the things it can do AND how much is still not known about it.
3. The academy setting. I don't know why people keep saying nothing happens in this book. SO MUCH goes on during all of these training days! Yes, there is a lot of internal progression and character development, but it isn't lile nothing separates each day from the next. The progression is NATURAL. These kids aren't superhuman and sprout 8packs after a week. (Emmett doesn't mention his abs developing until after day 100). I LIKE character driven books, and I LIKE the academy setting. Probably my favorite setting to read in (academies/schools of any sort, really).
Now onto the few things I didn't like as much:
1. The way Kaya was used at some point as a prop simply to further Emmett's character arc. This happens to often, especially in Sci-Fi and YA in general, that I just sigh and shake my head.
2. The way Longwei especially was stereotyped as the "over-achieving, single-mindedly focused on personal success" Chinese kid. I feel like with the other characters we got at least some stereotype-breaking going on, but his character seemed flat and one-dimensional; a missed opportunity.
3. There were maaaybe a few too many parallels to Red Rising, but I'm not sure how much I minded... Not going to go into detail here, read it yo'self.
Now to sit not-so-patiently wait for the next books in the series.
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This was great! I buzzed through this so quickly (listening to the audio, and I had multiple multi-tasking options so I could justify spending hours on the story). I've put the next two books in the series on hold at my local library and am anxiously awaiting them coming in.
This didn't remind me of "Hunger Games" as much as Survivor/ReadyPlayerOne ... less life and death, more of a "for money" trying to win. 10 recruits from all over the world. A very diverse group (a little like Sense8 in that). Language differences not really an issue as they have auto-translators (just an irony, with the name "Babel"). Only 8 of the 10 get to go onto the planet and future riches (although there is a consolation prize for the other two which isn't too bad).
There are a bunch of competitions. Things that should help prep them for life on Eden, the planet coming up. There is a unique material, Nyxia, which can transform into almost anything (not food or water, but tools/weapons, etc). There are some aliens on Eden, but they don't play into this first installment too much.
Loved the whole world here. Kept my interest. The conflict of building relationships, while also competing against each other. Lots of twists and turns, not predictable at all, at least not to me.
I listened to the audio edition. Narration was very good.
Very glad the series is out already ... now just to wait for my holds to come in.
This didn't remind me of "Hunger Games" as much as Survivor/ReadyPlayerOne ... less life and death, more of a "for money" trying to win. 10 recruits from all over the world. A very diverse group (a little like Sense8 in that). Language differences not really an issue as they have auto-translators (just an irony, with the name "Babel"). Only 8 of the 10 get to go onto the planet and future riches (although there is a consolation prize for the other two which isn't too bad).
There are a bunch of competitions. Things that should help prep them for life on Eden, the planet coming up. There is a unique material, Nyxia, which can transform into almost anything (not food or water, but tools/weapons, etc). There are some aliens on Eden, but they don't play into this first installment too much.
Loved the whole world here. Kept my interest. The conflict of building relationships, while also competing against each other. Lots of twists and turns, not predictable at all, at least not to me.
I listened to the audio edition. Narration was very good.
Very glad the series is out already ... now just to wait for my holds to come in.
itsmandyj's review against another edition
4.0
This book reminded me of the Hunger Games in outer space. The friendships and characters are extremely well done and you really feel connected to them.
There are so many twist and turns in Nyxia that I never saw coming and sucked me in even further. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.
There are so many twist and turns in Nyxia that I never saw coming and sucked me in even further. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.
licensetoshelbs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
missyansell's review against another edition
4.0
Emmentt has the rare chance to go to the planet Eden, a planet somewhat like Earth but with sentient beings called Adamites. But first to win a spot to go to Eden, him and a bunch of others are forced into a competition of ten with only eight spots. Those who win, get money sent to their families and make history. Emmentt not only wants to win to earn money for his parents, but also wants to break the chains of societal pressure.
I really liked Emmentt. I love seeing his character show a large amount of emotions. I also love that he isn't the best, he always has to work hard. There isn't some cheesy romance, there really is only just a touch of it and I love that. Yes finding love is important, but Emmentt has the chance to achieve greatness that only a few can arise to. Definitely look forward to book two!
Edit: Doing my reread before I read [b:Nyxia Unleashed|35424762|Nyxia Unleashed (The Nyxia Triad, #2)|Scott Reintgen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1512398396s/35424762.jpg|56800765]!
I really liked Emmentt. I love seeing his character show a large amount of emotions. I also love that he isn't the best, he always has to work hard. There isn't some cheesy romance, there really is only just a touch of it and I love that. Yes finding love is important, but Emmentt has the chance to achieve greatness that only a few can arise to. Definitely look forward to book two!
Edit: Doing my reread before I read [b:Nyxia Unleashed|35424762|Nyxia Unleashed (The Nyxia Triad, #2)|Scott Reintgen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1512398396s/35424762.jpg|56800765]!