Another solid effort in the Expanse series, and probably my second favorite thus far. The novel does what the Expanse has been best at - presenting mysterious alien technology and forcing our beloved crew the chance to figure it out. The star of the show is really the planet, which for the first half is simply a backdrop to introduce our characters and play out their dramas. Compared to the drama of the planet itself, it's hard to have any real understanding for these situations. Several of the characters even remark how ridiculous it is for people to argue about a few resources when so much of the universe is just waiting for people to explore. But when the planet comes to life, things really hit the fan, which seems to be where the authors Corey excel. Much like a Michael Bay movie, all the human drama and characterization is really just a setup for the BIG SPLOSIONS, and Cibola Burn doesn't disappoint. My one quibble, however, is it feels like the big bad guys (Murtry, Koenen) don't really have any motivation for their "badness," just some vague view on their role as colonizers and conquistadors. It's hard to be bothered for too long, though, because it isn't long before the universe's real baddies start to wake up. All in all, a solid entry in the series, and one that will keep me interested for the next.