Book thoughts: The Expanse (books 1-3)
Published 17 July 2026
I've been reading a lot of sci-fi books the past few years, mostly sampling the classics - Dune, Space Odyssey, Neuromancer, to name a few - and while I've largely enjoyed them, I've struggled to find any that gripped me from start to finish, or that manage to pull me in for a full series. With The Expanse, I think I've found a series that contains much of what I've been searching for: a fun and exciting adventure through space that brings just enough scientific grounding to remain believable without getting bogged down in academia.
Featuring 9 books, the series is by no means short, but I found myself getting through the first three books at a very solid pace (by my standards anyway). Each sitting at about 500-600 pages, they have reminded me that long books are not necessarily hard to get through: I've read some a third of that length which were much greater struggles to finish. These pack in enough twists and turns to make them compelling from (mostly) start to finish.
I won't deny that I get a bit of a nerd boner whenever the authors discuss the intricacies of space travel, how gravity is managed across ships and stations, or how humans have adapted to the varied environments of Earth, Mars, and the Belt. You can tell that they've put a good deal of thought into how these societies could work, without going overly deep into the science. I'm sure some science nerds out there could poke all sorts of holes in it, but it strikes a very nice balance between believability and practicality.
#1 Leviathan Wakes
A very strong start to the series with a compelling core plot thread. It's a good standalone read while also setting up sequel hooks. I think you'd very quickly learn whether or not this series is for you based on how you like the themes on show here.
#2 Caliban's War
I had a slightly harder time getting through this one because it's a slower burn than the other two. It still has its fair share of exciting moments but it felt to me like it leaves long gaps between points that actually move the plot forward in any meaningful way. It also features four protagonists instead of two, which may have exacerbated that issue. The constant jumping between perspectives can make it a little difficult to feel invested in each plot thread.
#3 Abaddon's Gate
Possibly my favourite of the three so far, this is where the larger themes of the series start to become more apparent. The real weight of the vast unknowns of space is brought to bear here. It perhaps gets a little bogged down in action sequences towards the end but otherwise the four character perspectives intertwine very smartly this time around, and I really enjoyed the inter-faction politics on display.