This was great! I buzzed through this so quickly (listening to the audio, and I had multiple multi-tasking options so I could justify spending hours on the story). I've put the next two books in the series on hold at my local library and am anxiously awaiting them coming in.

This didn't remind me of "Hunger Games" as much as Survivor/ReadyPlayerOne ... less life and death, more of a "for money" trying to win. 10 recruits from all over the world. A very diverse group (a little like Sense8 in that). Language differences not really an issue as they have auto-translators (just an irony, with the name "Babel"). Only 8 of the 10 get to go onto the planet and future riches (although there is a consolation prize for the other two which isn't too bad).

There are a bunch of competitions. Things that should help prep them for life on Eden, the planet coming up. There is a unique material, Nyxia, which can transform into almost anything (not food or water, but tools/weapons, etc). There are some aliens on Eden, but they don't play into this first installment too much.

Loved the whole world here. Kept my interest. The conflict of building relationships, while also competing against each other. Lots of twists and turns, not predictable at all, at least not to me.

I listened to the audio edition. Narration was very good.

Very glad the series is out already ... now just to wait for my holds to come in.