226 reviews for:

Before Mars

Emma Newman

4.17 AVERAGE


Tämä oli oikein hyvää "avaruusasemalla kaikki ei ole sitä miltä ensisilmäyksellä näyttää"-lajin vainoharhaista scifiä, jossa fokus oli kuitenkin enemmän päähenkilön mielenmaisemassa kuin varsinaisessa jännitysmysteerissä. Emma Newmanin scifi on sukua Becky Chambersin kirjoille ja tämä Before Mars oli oiva sisarteos Chambersin To Be Taught, If Fortunate -pienoisromaanille.

https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3183836.html

Interesting set-up of an artist/geologist on a mission to Mars, who gradually discovers that not everything is as she had thought it was. The problem is that the kernel of the true situation becomes clear to reader much quicker than it does to the protagonist, and we spend most of the book waiting for her to catch up. Also the actual resolution didn't seem all that convincing to me.

Loved this! Having read the two previous novels, I did guess the twist and no where the plot was going but it was still an absolute pleasure spending time with these characters, particularly Anna. Loved the rep of motherhood here - it's an important rep not often seen in books and infrequently talked openly about. Also, another non-binary character, hooray!

detailsandtales's review

5.0

This book almost read like horror. It introduces mysterious elements fairly early on in the story, and the mystery only gets creepier as the book goes along. There was a wonderful plot twist at the end that made all of the pieces fit together, though I could have done without one particular pivotal event. That having been said, the aftermath of that event is handled well, and has a serious impact on the characters. The speculative elements in this story - both the setting and the technology involed - play a huge role in what happens, but it's a very human story at the same time. It also does something I'm not sure I've ever seen in a speculative fiction novel: it has a protagonist who had postpartum depression. And I give it bonus points for featuring a gay couple and having one of the main characters be of nonbinary gender.

This is the greatest mindfuck of a book I've ever read.
adventurous emotional fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I’m so glad that I picked up this book! I bought a copy used and didn’t realize until partway through that it was 3rd in a series. I was not confused even though I have not read the first two, and it is not exposition heavy either but just very well written. It seems like each book has tangentially related characters but the events of each book are mostly sequential. 

I really enjoyed the eerie feeling that I had reading this. There are enough clues to keep you guessing and even if you think you know what will happen next, it is still highly entertaining. 

I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series and more from this author!



This third book is different from the previous and the first book. She always has a mental health issue, too.

I can't wait to read the fourth. Might have to wait.
adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
mysterious fast-paced

Tense and a bit claustrophobic at times, it’s a great story with great tension and a fast pace that kept me interested. The bits describing postpartum depression were especially well done.