The Expanse by James S. A. Corey isn’t just a series—it’s a rollercoaster ride where humanity’s mess spills across the solar system (and beyond). These books are equal parts hard sci-fi and emotional punch, with just enough humor to keep you sane.
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The Expanse Books Ranked
1. Tiamat’s Wrath (Book 8)
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5/5
A deep dive into grief, loyalty, and sacrifice. The emotional stakes are sky-high, and the alien mysteries loom larger than ever. It’s heavy but powerful.
Everyone loves a good underdog story, right? Well, the Rocinante is completely outmatched. The emotional stakes are so high, you’ll feel like you need a hug after finishing it. And did I mention grief? It’s all over this book. When it’s not breaking your heart, it’s making you question the meaning of survival, sacrifice, and loyalty. Are we all fighting for nothing? Can we keep going when we’ve already lost so much?
Excerpt:
“Thirteen hundred gates have opened to solar systems around the galaxy. But as humanity builds its interstellar empire in the alien ruins, the mysteries and threats grow deeper.“
“There are people I love. There are people who have loved me. I fought for what I believed, protected those I could, and stood my ground against the encroaching darkness. Good enough”
2. Nemesis Games (Book 5)
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.8/5
The crew splits up. What could possibly go wrong? (Answer: everything.)” This one feels personal. Everyone’s chasing their own demons, and just when you think things can’t get worse, the Belt decides to revolt
Finally, a little break from the Rocinante crew together—and I mean finally, because they’re all in need of some solo therapy sessions. Naomi confronts her past. Amos returns to Earth to deal with his demons. Alex is searching for… well, who knows, but it’s personal. And Holden? He’s still Holden, trying to save the universe with his morals in one hand and a please don’t blow up Earth sign in the other. You won’t recover easily. Is it still space opera if it makes you cry?
Excerpt:
“A thousand worlds have opened, and the greatest land rush in human history has begun. As wave after wave of colonists leave, the power structures of the old solar system begin to buckle.”
“You can tell you’ve found a really interesting question when nobody wants you to answer it”
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3. Leviathan Wakes (Book 1)
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.5/5
The gateway to The Expanse. A derelict ship, alien goo, and a noir detective meet a principled ice hauler captain. The pacing is relentless, and the worldbuilding is immersive. It’s the more of “let me read just one more chapter” book.
Jim Holden, your idealistic, do-gooder space cowboy, and Miller, the noir detective with a heart of… well, mostly stone, team up to figure out what’s going on. Are aliens out to destroy humanity? Maybe. Will Holden keep doing what’s right, no matter the cost? Definitely. This first book is where it all begins, and trust me, it’s not just about space battles and political intrigue. There’s humanity at stake, or lack thereof.
Excerpt:
“Humanity has colonized the solar system—Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond—but the stars are still out of our reach.”
“What kind of half-assed apocalypse are they running down there?” Amos said. “Give ’em a break. It’s their first.”
4. Leviathan Falls (Book 9)
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.25/5
The big, explosive, we’re-all-doomed battle with the ancient alien enemy finally comes to a head. But is this really the end? After all this time, all these insane plots, and all these tears (yes, tears), does it all make sense? Does it wrap up neatly, or is it just the most emotional rollercoaster you’ll ever ride?
A bittersweet farewell. The stakes couldn’t be higher, but some plotlines feel rushed. Still, it’s a satisfying conclusion to an unforgettable journey.
Excerpt:
“The Laconian Empire has fallen, setting the thirteen hundred solar systems free from the rule of Winston Duarte. But the ancient enemy that killed the gate builders is awake, and the war against our universe has begun again.”
“The stars are still there,” she said. “We’ll find our own way back to them.”
5. Persepolis Rising (Book 7)
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.00/5
Time jump alert! The shift in tone is jarring, but the story of rebellion against a polished empire is gripping. The Rocinante crew’s maturity adds depth.
Fast forward a bit—humanity has expanded beyond the original solar system, and now we have the Laconian Empire, which sounds terrifying but also super shiny. The Rocinante crew is aging (don’t we all?), and a new force to reckon with is here: the empire. Can they topple it? Can the Rocinante hold its own against a slick, military dictatorship? Or are we all doomed to live in a galaxy-wide “Big Brother” state? The tension is palpable, but will it shift the balance forever? Or will humanity implode again?
Excerpt:
“Your empire’s hands look a lot cleaner when you get to dictate where history begins, and what parts of it count.”
“In his opinion, faith was generally for people who were bad at math.”
6. Caliban’s War (Book 2)
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐3.75/5
Politics, Martian Marines, and creepy alien hybrids? Yes, please. Bobbie Draper and Avasarala steal the show, adding much-needed humor and badassery. The pacing falters a bit, but it’s still a thrilling ride.
In case you thought the last book was a wild ride, welcome to round two. Holden and Miller are back, but guess what? Now we’ve got a Martian Marine (Bobbie Draper) who’s tougher than a rebar fence and a political powerhouse (Chrisjen Avasarala) who could probably convince a rock to start a revolution. The stakes are higher, the space monsters are scarier, and the tensions between Earth, Mars, and the Belt are turning into a slow-motion war. But are we getting closer to understanding these alien blobs? Not quite. Is Holden still a martyr? Absolutely.
Excerpt:
“We are not alone. On Ganymede, breadbasket of the outer planets, a Martian marine watches as her platoon is slaughtered by a monstrous supersoldier. On Earth, a high-level politician struggles to prevent interplanetary war from reigniting.”
“If life transcends death, then I will seek for you there. If not, then there too.”
7. Babylon’s Ashes (Book 6)
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐3.5/5
A gritty, sprawling war epic that tackles rebellion and the cost of freedom. The Rocinante crew is at the center of it all, but the spotlight also shines on humanity’s messy, often brutal nature. It’s a high-stakes, slow-burn story that rewards patience.
Imagine your world just got destroyed, and now, there’s no good guy to root for. Marco Inaros—who sounds like a character from a revenge fantasy—has done exactly that. He’s blowing stuff up, taking over, and wrecking everyone’s plans. So now, humanity is left to pick up the pieces, but with no one willing to cooperate. We get multiple perspectives here, and while you’re frantically flipping pages, you’re wondering: Can anyone save Earth? And spoiler alert: the answer is more complicated than you’d like it to be. But hey, at least it’s action-packed, if nothing else!
Excerpt:
“A revolution brewing for generations has begun in fire. It will end in blood. The Free Navy – a violent group of Belters in black-market military ships – has crippled the Earth and begun a campaign of piracy and violence among the outer planets.”
“My life has become a single, ongoing revelation that I haven’t been cynical enough.” At”
8. Abaddon’s Gate (Book 3)
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐3.5/5
Okay, so now we’ve got a literal alien gate just hanging out in the solar system, and what do we do? Send in the human race to poke around. The Rocinante crew is joined by a pastor (Anna) and a guy named Bull, who’s definitely not as chill as he sounds. Is it smart to explore the unknown? Well, it sure makes for great reading. And let’s be real: it wouldn’t be The Expanse if it didn’t have some existential soul-searching, horrifying discoveries, and mind-bending twists.
A haunting exploration of humanity’s hubris. The alien gate is terrifying, but the pacing drags in places.
Excerpt:
“For generations, the solar system – Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt – was humanity’s great frontier. Until now. The alien artefact working through its program under the clouds of Venus has emerged to build a massive structure outside the orbit of Uranus: a gate that leads into a starless dark.”
“I keep warning you. Doors and corners, kid. That’s where they get you. Humans are too fucking stupid to listen.”
9. Cibola Burn (Book 4)
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐3.25/5
Pioneers vs. corporations. The stakes feel smaller, but the ethical dilemmas are fascinating. The execution isn’t perfect, but it’s still engaging.
Hold onto your space boots, folks—frontier life just got a whole lot harder. The gates to new planets are open, and humanity’s doing its usual thing: claiming land, ignoring warnings, and starting wars. Illus, a planet that’s about as welcoming as your angry aunt’s house, is where things go from “bad” to “oh god, what did we do?” If wild west in space was a genre, this book would be it. Is it morally wrong to bulldoze an entire planet for resources? You bet. Does the Rocinante crew survive? Well, that’s a question for the gods of space and corporate greed.
Excerpt:
“The gates have opened the way to thousands of habitable planets, and the land rush has begun. Settlers stream out from humanity’s home planets in a vast, poorly controlled flood, landing on a new world.”
“Right,” Holden said. “No coffee. This is a terrible, terrible planet.”
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the expanse books in order
expanse novels ranked
the expanse books chronological order
About the Author:
James S. A. Corey is the pen name of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck and are known for their sci- fi book series “The Expanse”.
