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hanz's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Death, Child death, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Infidelity and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Suicide attempt
justiceofkalr's review against another edition
4.0
My only minor issue with this book was the timing of the message at the very end when they’re deciding what to do. It just seemed too neatly convenient that she got the message while they were having their plan the future meeting. Other than that, everything about this was fantastic and tied in really great with the other two books. I love this series so so much. Also, I highly recommend the audiobook.
ekpickell's review against another edition
4.0
I really like figuring out how the books are connected. The writer does an amazing job with the character in this book. I love this series!
lindy_b's review against another edition
3.0
Lacking in both the depth of character of [b:Planetfall|24237785|Planetfall (Planetfall, #1)|Emma Newman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1424627926s/24237785.jpg|43823353] or the breakneck pace of [b:After Atlas|28361265|After Atlas (Planetfall, #2)|Emma Newman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456689269s/28361265.jpg|48430277], Before Mars is a decent addition to the series that makes me anxious to see if and how Emma Newman will finish it all up. I appreciated the stuff about alienation from motherhood/womanhood more generally, but both the hook and major revelation are oddly similar to a story I wrote in seventh grade after reading ten PKD stories in a weekend, which is to say, not interesting to me at this point, especially considering the middle section also gave me [b:Solaris|95558|Solaris|Stanisław Lem|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1498631519s/95558.jpg|3333881] vibes.
chirson's review against another edition
3.0
A gutting and unputdownable book. I found its pacing annoying - the plot twists were simple to guess, and then the book took a while to let the characters catch up, and there was entirely too much padding - but the protagonist is fascinating and the plot makes up for that.
And I felt like it wasn't just Anna but the novel going back and forth on Charlie - is he an abusive monster who sabotaged his fertility meds to get Anna pregnant (a mark of serious abuse!) or just a guy she's not well matched with? I feel like if it's the former, how can he be ever trusted with Mia?
I wish I knew when to expect #5, because I must know what happens next.
Spoiler
I really appreciated being in Anna's head, and the rare representation Newman includes, even as I found the protagonist difficult and frustrating. I kept being annoyed with her, not for feeling the way she felt, but rather - for seemingly having no awareness of the phenomena she was experiencing. Has she never heard of postpartum depression? It felt strange that certain types of mental health problems were discussed and named in the novel (like dissociation) and Anna, a veteran of mental health care, somehow avoids the diagnosis.And I felt like it wasn't just Anna but the novel going back and forth on Charlie - is he an abusive monster who sabotaged his fertility meds to get Anna pregnant (a mark of serious abuse!) or just a guy she's not well matched with? I feel like if it's the former, how can he be ever trusted with Mia?
I wish I knew when to expect #5, because I must know what happens next.
grid's review against another edition
4.0
I complained several times about the mother-stuff in this book. After finishing the book, I read the afterward, which mentions postpartum depression, and I feel bad for having done so. I get that it was a major part of this character, but it went on too long for my tastes and was just generally not that pleasant to read. But it’s important and I’m glad it’s there.
Anyway, I liked a lot of the other aspects of this book, even if I also found the main “mystery” to be entirely too predictable. It was still interesting, and definitely a fast read.
Anyway, I liked a lot of the other aspects of this book, even if I also found the main “mystery” to be entirely too predictable. It was still interesting, and definitely a fast read.
alina_leonova's review against another edition
5.0
Characters
Anna Kubrin - a geologist and artist who has been sent to Mars - is the main character. As is typical of all the Planetfall books, the story is told in the first person through her point of view. It's also a typical thing that Anna is struggling with some issues and is brilliantly fleshed out. We get to know her intimately thanks to the depth of Emma Newman's writing. Other characters are the crew living on the Mars base, each of them is unique and feels real.
World-building
Emma Newman has created an immersive, well-researched world, depicting various aspects of living on Mars. A lot of the tech is common for the Planetfall world, some of it is specific to Mars. Again, extensive world-building and interesting technology is something I've come to associate with author's style. The book can be classified as hard sci-fi.
Plot
The plot is straightforward, even though it's told in a non-linear way and a lot of information is provided through flashbacks, memories and immersive recordings that Anna watches (which is again something typical of Emma Newman's style, at least in the Planetfall series).
Impressions
I loved the book. Even though I deduced part of the mystery early on from the previous novels in the series, it still had a lot to offer and surprise me with. The book can be read as a standalone, and I believe it can be more unpredictable this way.
The flaws and struggles of the main character are the focus of the story along with the Martian mystery. Anna Kubrin struggles with her motherhood and marriage. Through her, the author creates a compelling and profound portrayal of postnatal depression.
You might enjoy the book if you are into Mars, high-tech, sci-fi thrillers and liked other Planetfall books. You can also start with this book and see if you want to proceed with the series.
Check out my website about sci-fi by women and non-binary authors for more reviews, lists, interviews, short stories and more.
Anna Kubrin - a geologist and artist who has been sent to Mars - is the main character. As is typical of all the Planetfall books, the story is told in the first person through her point of view. It's also a typical thing that Anna is struggling with some issues and is brilliantly fleshed out. We get to know her intimately thanks to the depth of Emma Newman's writing. Other characters are the crew living on the Mars base, each of them is unique and feels real.
World-building
Emma Newman has created an immersive, well-researched world, depicting various aspects of living on Mars. A lot of the tech is common for the Planetfall world, some of it is specific to Mars. Again, extensive world-building and interesting technology is something I've come to associate with author's style. The book can be classified as hard sci-fi.
Plot
The plot is straightforward, even though it's told in a non-linear way and a lot of information is provided through flashbacks, memories and immersive recordings that Anna watches (which is again something typical of Emma Newman's style, at least in the Planetfall series).
Impressions
I loved the book. Even though I deduced part of the mystery early on from the previous novels in the series, it still had a lot to offer and surprise me with. The book can be read as a standalone, and I believe it can be more unpredictable this way.
The flaws and struggles of the main character are the focus of the story along with the Martian mystery. Anna Kubrin struggles with her motherhood and marriage. Through her, the author creates a compelling and profound portrayal of postnatal depression.
You might enjoy the book if you are into Mars, high-tech, sci-fi thrillers and liked other Planetfall books. You can also start with this book and see if you want to proceed with the series.
Check out my website about sci-fi by women and non-binary authors for more reviews, lists, interviews, short stories and more.
georgina_bawden's review against another edition
4.0
This may be my second fave Planetfall novel. I loved that the protagonist was a less than perfect mother, and I liked all the characters and how they knit together. I am a sucker for a good Mars Base story anyway, so this was always going to be up my alley. Definite shades of the movies Moon and Oblivion in here, playing with some staple tropes of the genre but with a twist. I am excited about where the series seems to be going! Can't wait for more!
jj_tj's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Death and War