Synopsis via Goodreads:

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 Review:

Scott Reintgen’s debut novel, Nyxia will leave you anxious for the next book as soon as you’ve finished it. In this book, we meet Emmett, Kaya, Bilal, Longwei, Katsu, Jaime, Azima, Roathy, and Isadora, all of whom have been chosen by the mysterious and powerful Babel Communications for a high stakes competition in space. 10 of them start aboard Genesis 11, but only 8 will advance to the next stage, and there are a lot of twists and turns along the path that will get them there. This book truly defines a high-octane thriller, and I can’t wait to see what Reintgen will bring to us with the next installment.

Scott is a local author, so I’ve had the pleasure of getting to meet him both times he came to Quail Ridge to promote his own books, as well as seeing him in conversation with and supporting other authors. If he comes to a city near you, definitely go see him.