Nemesis Games (Expanse, #5)

by James S. A. Corey

[abookishblether]

Leviathan Wakes ★★★★★
Caliban's War ★★★★☆
Abaddon's Gate ★★★★★
Cibola Burn ★★★★☆
Nemesis Games ★★★★★

Nemesis Games is the first time we see our crew separated. They decide at the beginning of the book that they will all spend their shore leave in a different way, leaving Holden to wait for them all to come back like a lost little puppy. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before in my reviews, but the strong relationships between Amos, Alex, Naomi and Holden and how they feel so deeply that they are a family is one of my favourite aspects of this series. I really wish it would get a bit more screentime, a bit more emphasis put on their emotional bond.

Well, funnily enough, but separating the characters it did just that. Holden worries like a mother hen about his family, and while he does his best to respect their personal space the relief he feels when the others contact him was intense. I really loved each characters individual story, the reveals we got about their history, and the new relationships they developed along the way. I do feel like only two out of the four characters were given the full advantage of this development and would like to see the other two given more backstory and personal baggage. But all in all, this might be my top book in the series for how it pushed and developed the relationships.