Nemesis Games: A Review

Nemesis Games is the fifth book in the successful Expanse series by James S. A. Corey. The series is now up to eight books (with a final ninth book planned) and is the basis of a successful and very good TV series. 

While the first four books largely dealt with the fight against the alien protomolecule, this one starts with the crew of the Rocinante off on separate journeys while the ship is in dry dock. Then the Earth is hit by a giant meteor and the action picks up, but it's all contained to the solar system; there's nothing beyond the newly found gates to the rest of the universe.  

This installment feels very much like a transitional book, or a lead-in to the next one. We find out much more about the background of the main characters, especially Naomi, who plays a key role in the story, and most of the action revolves around the politics of the new (and now unstable) solar system. It felt claustrophobic.

It took me a long time to get into Nemesis Games. It starts out slow and doesn't pick up until about a third way through. The character development seemed awkward, and I found myself skimming a lot. 

Overall, I think this is the weakest of the Expanse series so far. I have started reading the next book, Babylon's Ashes, because it continues on directly from the end of Nemesis Games. I hope it will expand the scope of the story back to the fuller setting unveiled in the first four books.