Title: Abaddon’s Gate

Author: James S. A. Corey

Series: The Expanse #3

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

The Overview: For generations, the solar system — Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt — was humanity’s great frontier. Until now. The alien artifact working through its program under the clouds of Venus has appeared in Uranus’s orbit, where it has built a massive gate that leads to a starless dark. Jim Holden and the crew of the Rocinante are part of a vast flotilla of scientific and military ships going out to examine the artifact. But behind the scenes, a complex plot is unfolding, with the destruction of Holden at its core. As the emissaries of the human race try to find whether the gate is an opportunity or a threat, the greatest danger is the one they brought with them.  

The Mini Review:

Whenever I pick up an Expanse novel, I know I’m in for a guaranteed good read. The authors just know how to create a high-stakes, fast-paced, thrill ride that usually has me devouring pages long after I should’ve gone to sleep (seriously – don’t read this book before you go to bed, you’ll never get any rest!). And aside from excellent pacing, part of what makes these novels so great are the characters. Each novel follows the story progression of the crew of the Rocinante, but also includes a few other POVs who add extra flair to story. As much as I love Holden and his crew, it’s these extra characters that I’ve come to look forward to most. They’re all written so well it’s like reading about real people – I’m definitely using this series as Exhibit A for characterization in my own writing. Combine that with compelling conflicts that get more complex and interesting with each novel, and you have yourself a killer series. Overall, if you love science fiction (especially space operas) this is currently my top recommend of the genre. I’ve heard it’s even in the final stages of becoming a television series, which will hopefully be just as epic!

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