Nemesis Games

This book, the latest in the Expanse series, sort of exists on two separate levels, so I think it's appropriate to consider it on two separate levels.

First, there's the character level, which is the primary focus for the first half of the book (character continues to be important in the second half, of course, but it's not the only focus). The crew of the Rocinante gets shore leave, and use it to tie up some loose ends in their personal lives. It was nice to see how the characters exist separate from one another, as it allowed Corey to highlight how their personalities complement each other and how they've grown into a cohesive group.

The other level is the main, actual, plot, which becomes a major part of the story in the second half. I've seen (favourable) comparisons of this to The Empire Strikes Back, and I think that actually undersells the moment when it happens. The Big Moment™ hits like a cross between the Red Wedding and Adrian Veidt's “I did it 35 minutes ago” speech, and seeing how all of the individual storylines were dovetailing into it was phenomenal. New life has been breathed into the series, and I can't wait to see where they take it next.

The Expanse, as a series, has seemed like a masterclass in how to balance an engaging plot with in-depth characterization, and this novel in particular is a nigh-perfect example of that.