I gave this book a quick try, and ultimately decided to DNF -- my tastes have changed since I requested this. Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book!

I started off the year with a sci-fi fantasy and I am so glad I did. This book reminds me of all the reasons why it’s my favourite genre and I love it! One of my fave troupes is an academy/ competition and this delivered. It was so so good😍. I loved all the characters; Emmett, Kaya, Bilal. There relationship and the cutthroat turned into found family..😍. I cannot gush about this book enough. I definitely started off 2021 strong💛

Unfortunately I no longer wish to review this book as the first few chapters did not reel me in. Thank you for the opportunity.

I'm glad I did get round to reading this book as I did enjoy it but I think this is a series that will get better. It wasn't really what I was expecting but then I didn't really know what this was about.

I really enjoyed the competition aspect of this book as it really ramped up the tension and made the stakes very high. It did remind me a little of Enders Game. I would say this book took a lot of turns I wasn't expecting. It was intersting to learn more about the characters and their backgrounds, they are all poor and have a lot riding on suceeding. Other than training and making people work harder I'm not sure what the competition really acheived. They are going to another world where they will be working together surely it would be better for them to get along? I was also a little disappointed that the competition lasted the whole book.

It is obviously that there is more going on that meets the eye and this book sets up the next in the series. I am interested to continue with the series and actually see the alien planet. There is a lot we don't know and I'm looking forward to seeing it uncovered.

If you like books with cut throat competition, I would highly recommend.

I really like this book so really easy to get into and a fun read I would recommend it's. I got this book from Netgallery in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishers for sending me an eARC of this book.

I requested this book on NetGalley almost a year ago and am only just getting around to reading it 🤦🏻‍♀️

Ugh okay, so I wanted to love this book but it was just really lacking for me. The book relies so heavily on the fact that there’s going to be more in the series. I thought this book was going to be part their journey, but part getting to the world and meeting the “aliens”, because that’s what the summary suggested but instead the whole book is just the journey to Eden. The book is so repetitive; the whole book is essentially just repeating the same day with Emmett looking up to the leaderboard to see where he was. I just needed more from this book...

Also, let’s talk about Nyxia for a minute. The material that solves every goddamn problem 🤦🏻‍♀️ everything that could have been an issue instantly wasn’t because Nyxia is here to save the day!! It’s just such a convenient plot device that really takes away any struggle.

The characters were okay; I liked that there was a lot of diversity but I honestly wish we’d followed one of the other characters because Emmett was such a brat at times 🤦🏻‍♀️ he constantly acted as if he deserved the points and that people were taking what was his. I just couldn’t cope with him - and the later romance that develops was just so out of left field it didn’t make sense.

I think this could really have been an amazing book but it just never quite got there; if it wasn’t relying on its sequels to tell the story I feel it could have been a lot better.

A brilliant book that has left me eager to read more in this series. I love sci fi and this was a brilliant combination of sci fi and thriller which kept me eager to keep reading more.

Why does Babel Communications
want 10 poor, needy and misfit teenagers? The first mystery Emmett encounters is how he was recruited. He is loner who loves music and has nothing in common with the other 10 teenagers collected (from every corner of the world) by the company. He then has to figure out how to survive the voyage so his family will benefit from the money, medical care and security, he can bring them by competing and winning a chance to visit an Earth-like planet, called Nyxia. But why does no one know about it? Why has it not been collanised? How can the journey only take a year?

Follow the trials, with its highs and lows, as Emmett battles his way to win a place in the landing party and try to make friends of his enemies.

Unravel the mysteries that are discovered on the way on board Genesis 11.

If he was a guaranteed winner it would still be exciting, as until the final few days, the new challenges thrown at the competitors keep coming. The author does not lead the reader to expect the mysteries or challenges just as Emmett and the other 9 candidates have no idea, so no candidate is safe until the end.

It took me 2 days to read as I could not stop reading at every opportunity.

Can't wait for the next one. After all there are still many mysteries/struggles left as the winner's depart for the planet. Will Emmett ever be allowed to return home if he survives? What are Babel Communications really after?

I was given the novel free by netgalley.com for my fair and honest review.

This is a brilliant read the characters are totally engaging and the story is action packed.
A book I just could not put down.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It’s a super fast paced sci-fi adventure, that focuses on a boy named Emmett. He’s competing for a top secret mission on another planet. I loved every minute of reading this and I can’t wait for the next one!

Summing up Nyxia, I would say it is Hunger Games meets Red Rising in space – and for me that is a perfect combination for a great read. From it’s opening pages I felt completely drawn into the world, the mystery of what drew this band of unlikely hero’s together bringing immediate intrigue and I couldn’t stop turning the pages from then on! Whist Emmett is our main protagonist, the story gives equal focus to all the characters – who neatly tick all the diversity and trope boxes. They are an instantly likeable group and as we get to learn more and more about what drives them to be the ones to succeed, it becomes more and more heartbreaking that some of them wont reach the selection to go down to Eden. The selection process is brutal at times and I liked how the factions grew, displaying both the good and bad in people and how desperation brings out the worst in humanity – that scoreboard had me full of anxiety!!

Whilst I wasn’t particularly sold on the concept of Eden and the reasons why it had to be a group of teenagers selected for the mission (it felt like YA justification) the story itself is outstanding, there are some huge twists, stunning set pieces and given that the majority takes place on a starship, the author did really well to make the most out of that environment and bring creativity to the surroundings. I loved the concept of the Nyxia itself, the substance is intriguing and I can’t wait to discover how it’s impact evolves down on Eden.

There are some HUGE twists in this which turns the story completely on it’s head, I did not see one of them coming at all which made me feel like I had started reading a new book over with the way it impacted on the group dynamics, the book ended on a doozy too, book 2 has just moved it’s way up near to the top of my TBR!

I recieved this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was not at all what I was expecting, or didn't grab me like I expected it to.

I liked the characters and the basic plot but I just couldn't get into it like I wanted. It was too easy to put down

I saw this one come up on the request list and TBH it was the cover and the blurb that drew me in – a space sci-fi story that sounded like it had taken the best bits of Hunger Games and shoved it into space. Emmett is a teenage boy who is recruited by Babel Corporation to go to space in exchange for a rather sizeable value contract and bonuses including healthcare for his family. In a world where poverty is at an all time high, Emmett obviously jumps at this chance. He soon finds out that, along with the other 9 teenagers on board, he is part of a bigger competition to be the savior for the next generation and travel to the planet of Eden, where Babel wants them to mine and return with the most valuable material in the universe to fix all the world’s problems.
As you can imagine when you read the words spaceship and competition it was an interesting and intense read. Tasks are set for the kids to achieve, the competition becomes increasingly disturbing with a lot of weird and wonderful happenings. We meet all the characters in detail although everything is from Emmett’s POV. The writing in this was great, I really enjoyed it. The plot kept me engrossed and I enjoyed the plot twists. The world building itself was a bit of a strange one, there isn’t much you can build with the whole book being on a space ship, but I did feel that it was enough. I would have liked to have more about Eden and Babel and even earth as it is now to round everything out. The characters were likeable and well fleshed out. I felt like I knew who Emmett was, who Kaya was and its made me want more.
My one big negative for this was the insta-love that we had going on towards the end. The twist was enough and could have been left without it IMO. I understand why it was written that way and as a plot device I get it, but for me the reader? No thanks. It made it come across as almost childish and cringey. For a character that we have gotten to know so well, it was so out of character.
This is a solid 3*/5* for me and I will be keeping an eye out for the next 2 books. Book 2 I believe is already out, with Book 3 due out in 2019 :)

Emmett Atwater has been given the chance to go to a different planet by the Babel Corporation. It means leaving his parents and friends behind, but Emmett will earn enough money to change their lives.
Emmett is one of ten hand-picked recruits chosen to travel to Eden to mine an important substance called Nyxia. But Emmett will have to compete to earn his place.
Throughout the journey to Eden, Emmett learns that there is more to Babel than meets the eye.
Will Emmett meet the cut and go to Eden?

Nyxia was basically The Hunger Games on a spaceship.
I thought Emmett was a good protagonist - he was likeable and I was rooting for him.
I liked several of the characters. There were two or three pairs of characters that had the same first letter at the beginning of their names which was a little confusing when all the names were introduced.
The plot was interesting but there were a couple of things that bugged me. There were a few twists that I didn't see coming.
The writing style held my attention but I wasn't gripped.
I'm not sure if I will continue with the series or not.

Overall this was an enjoyable read.

I have been seeing Nyxia around bookstagram for a while now and it sounded just like my type of book so I finally picked it up and I absolutely loved it!

I read this book in two evenings as I just could not put it down! It was fast paced and action packed and I was hooked right from the beginning. The concept and plot of the book where a group of children are chosen to mine a new planet was really interesting and it was made even more interesting by Babel forcing the teenagers to compete against each other for a spot on the mining team. This gave me the hunger games vibes in space and I loved it!

There was plenty of suspense and plot twists which kept me on my toes and just when I thought that I knew where the story was going then, bam! Another twist which left me reeling! I love that it wasn’t predictable and that there was no guarantee that all of them would survive until the end. It really increased the stakes for each of the characters. And then the story ended on a cliffhanger which left me needing book two immediately!

One thing I loved was the diversity of characters. They were from all over the world which was far more realistic and even though they were there for a common cause you could see how different they were from their upbringing and where they were from.

Despite there being so many characters each had a distinct voice and was fully fleshed out. They each had a story arc which was woven into the main story arc. I think the only characters I wish I had learnt more about was Isadora and Roathy.

Emmett was a really great character, I enjoyed watching him grow and change and fight back when Babel wanted to make him a cold killer. He knew his strength and weaknesses and that he would need to work with the others to get through the training, even making sacrifices when necessary. I’m looking forward to seeing his character development in the next book.

This book has left me with so many questions and I just need all the answers now! I’m looking forward to diving into the next book!

I definitely didn't expect to love this book as much as I did. I picked it up on a whim and was gripped from beginning to end. I've been reading more sci-fi than ever recently and Nyxia is a great addition to the canon. It's fast-paced, and I can see why it's been described as the "Hunger Games in Space". The cast of characters is wonderfully diverse, with Emmett being a complex and relatable main character. The only downside is that it ended on a huge cliffhanger which I'm not a big fan of.

I’ve been loving reading sci-fi books recently, so was really excited to get into this one!

Nyxia follows Emmett who has been selected by Babel, a large space cooperation, to travel to a new planet Eden and mine a substance called Nyxia. Emmett is one of ten recruits on the ship who are all competing for their place in one of the eight spots to go to Eden. There are challenges designed to test and prepare the recruits for life on Eden, but points are earnt from every successful challenge, and the bottom two will be going back home.

I enjoyed this book so much! I found myself thinking about it throughout the day and counting down the hours until I could next read more. It’s compelling and will draw you in, painting a vibrant picture of the spaceship, challenges and competitors.

The nature of the competition within this story gave it an extra element of tension, and hugely contributed to my interest as a reader: I needed to know everyone’s scores and who will make it to Eden! It kept the story fresh, as the competition would change often when new challenges and twists were added.

The recruits were a refreshing main cast. They are a diverse set of characters from all over the world who speak many different languages. Luckily, Babel have some innovative technology including a mask that lets the wearer understand any language (how cool is that?!). It was gripping to see the triumphs and downfalls of the characters in the competition, and friendships forming and breaking. The whole dynamic could shift with one task, keeping the pacing of the story fast and enjoyable.

The setting and technology added that extra level of detail to the plot. The substance Nyxia is only found on Eden, and has a trivial set of qualities. It can be manipulated by the mind to change and form any shape or object desired. One of my biggest loves about sci-fi books is the new technologies they revolve around and Nyxia did not disappoint. As well as the substance of Nyxia, there is a virtual reality treadmill room that makes it seem as if you are running through different terrains, anti gravity chambers and simulated fights where you can feel the pain without getting physically hurt. These technologies were very intriguing and made me want to learn more about this future that Scott Reintgen has created.

There were some mysteries within the plot surrounding Babel, though I felt that they were only mentioned a few times but not expanded on in the rest of the story. The mysteries took a bit of a backseat to the competition storyline, and I think it would have been perfect for me if the mystery element was woven throughout the book a bit more. That being said it didn’t take away from the rest of the amazing plot, and I still loved the journey this book took me on.

I’m giving Nyxia 4.5 out of 5 stars! This book was so enjoyable and gripping, I just wanted to keep reading! The characters were complex and interesting and the technology was very well thought out, adding hugely to the storyline. Nyxia was a really great read, and I would definitely recommend it, especially if you like sci-fi, technology or a competition element within stories.

This is an energetic serial, with Netflix written all over it. Very enjoyable, well paced and one suspects always with a bigger challenge round the corner

I have seen various references to Red Rising and The Hunger Games series in relation to this one and they are both apt. There is an ongoing contest where those who lose will never get to land on Eden and as you’d expect from a competition with such high stakes, there are some savage tactics employed. I really liked Emmett’s reluctance to adopt the most ruthless, violent route to try to achieve a place on Eden – and the fact that though he is very poor, he is also from a tight-knit, loving family. The cultural diversity of the youngsters taking part worked well and Reintgen managed to keep up the pace and tension throughout, despite the relatively large number of characters he was handling.

There is a steady progression of unpleasant discoveries about the project and the substance nyxia as the youngsters are mercilessly drilled and pitted against each other in order to hone their skills in mining and controlling nyxia, while coping with the environment. Eden doesn’t sound remotely like paradise if these exercises are any indication of the conditions prevailing on the alien planet. I like the fact that Emmett isn’t one of those who is right at the top – instead he is bumping along at the bottom and in constant danger of being flushed out of the project.

It was a shock when a couple of likeable, major characters died along the way, which raised the stakes and made it harder to put the book down. The ending is well handled, bringing the book to a climactic conclusion with another nasty surprise that genuinely made my jaw drop – I love it when that happens…

Any niggles? I could have done without the romance. It felt rather tacked on and certainly added nothing to the storyline. However, it’s not a dealbreaker and I am keen to read the next book in this trilogy, Nyxia Unleashed. While I obtained an arc of Nyxia from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10

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.