Cibola Burn

Cibola Burn plunges humanity into a new era of exploration and conflict as the Ring Gates open the path to a thousand new worlds. The fourth installment of The Expanse series centers on Illus, or New Terra, the first human colony beyond the gates. This untamed planet, rich in protomolecule artifacts, becomes a battleground when independent Belter settlers clash with a powerful corporate expedition aiming to seize control. As violence erupts and lives are lost, James Holden and the crew of the Rocinante are dispatched to mediate the escalating war. However, they soon discover that the planet itself harbors ancient, dangerous secrets and an alien ecosystem reacting violently to human presence. Holden is haunted by the echoes of a long-dead galactic civilization, whose mysterious demise serves as a chilling premonition, suggesting that humanity's expansion might be walking into a trap of cosmic proportions.