You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
Wow. Much like in [b:Planetfall|24237785|Planetfall (Planetfall, #1)|Emma Newman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1424627926l/24237785._SX50_.jpg|43823353], I was emotionally invested in this one. I tore through this much faster than I normally do. This series has me really wondering where this is going to go. I loved the main character in this, and her struggles really resonated with me. These "flawed" main characters are so relatable.
This one picks up around the end of [b:After Atlas|28361265|After Atlas (Planetfall, #2)|Emma Newman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1456689269l/28361265._SY75_.jpg|48430277]. About half way through, I did pick up on where the story was going to go (in broad strokes at least), but it did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.
Overall, this was the best of the series so far. I'm not sure if I'm ready to move to the 4th book, or if I should take some emotional space and read something a little less intense first.
This one picks up around the end of [b:After Atlas|28361265|After Atlas (Planetfall, #2)|Emma Newman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1456689269l/28361265._SY75_.jpg|48430277]. About half way through, I did pick up on where the story was going to go (in broad strokes at least), but it did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.
Overall, this was the best of the series so far. I'm not sure if I'm ready to move to the 4th book, or if I should take some emotional space and read something a little less intense first.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Read via NetGalley ARC
This was good! Pretty interesting, with intriguing characters. It didn't really grab me, and I wonder if that's because I haven't read her other stuff. This def stands on its own, but I feel like maybe I'm lacking the connection do it because I haven't read the other Planetfall books? No sure! But I will now read those!
This was good! Pretty interesting, with intriguing characters. It didn't really grab me, and I wonder if that's because I haven't read her other stuff. This def stands on its own, but I feel like maybe I'm lacking the connection do it because I haven't read the other Planetfall books? No sure! But I will now read those!
4,5
Den beste så langt. Kommer sikkert tilbake i morgen og slenger på en stjerne til.
Den beste så langt. Kommer sikkert tilbake i morgen og slenger på en stjerne til.
This was good, but... I don't know. Maybe if you read this before the second book it would've had more suspense. As it was, it was clear that Anna's memory had been wiped because earth was destroyed and they couldn't handle it. I still don't totally get what was happening at the end. They found out about the second base because Anna was investigating it, and they weren't supposed to know? At some point it sounded like they had known about the second base from the get go except Anna. And I think she gave Travis the info which he then used to get in with the Circle? Idk, it was a little confusing given the fact that I knew what happened. I think reading this book FIRST then reading the second book might work better? Since the second book's entire plot might not be as easily guessed... I don't know. I love Travis! I hope he comes by again in the next book.
Some of the best psychological horror I've read in quite some time.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
Probably the strongest of Emma's books for me so far, it was deeply unsettling, earnest, relatable and repulsive in equal measures. I think it did exactly what it intended to do, even if it was upsetting to read.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
Spoiler
separation from family, gaslighting, medical experimentation, genocide/nuclear war, loss of loved ones, post partum depressionProbably the strongest of Emma's books for me so far, it was deeply unsettling, earnest, relatable and repulsive in equal measures. I think it did exactly what it intended to do, even if it was upsetting to read.
A deeply personal book that makes for a compelling read. As was the case in the previous two Planetfall books, [b:Planetfall|24237785|Planetfall (Planetfall, #1)|Emma Newman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1424627926s/24237785.jpg|43823353] and [b:After Atlas|28361265|After Atlas (Planetfall, #2)|Emma Newman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456689269s/28361265.jpg|48430277], Newman sketches the portrait of a deeply flawed main character struggling to survive and present as "normal".
After Atlas gave us a glimpse of a future Earth, ruled by corporate governments, horrifying contracts, and profit. Before Mars continues in the same vein, and provides a bleak look at a world that seems less implausible now than it used to.
The main character, Anna, struggles with her feelings about her family, and in particular, her inability to fully embrace her role as a mother. It is extremely rare for people to talk about this, and about post-natal depression and how it really feels when you have to deal with it day after day. I have to applaud Newman for being brave enough to put what are obviously her own issues right out there on the page for everyone to see. Some people will find Anna completely unrelatable, but others, I suspect will silently feel the sense of understanding that comes from seeing something of themselves in the pages.
There is a heavy emotional and psychological side here that may not appeal to everyone, but if you like your mysteries told from an place of extreme personal honesty by the characters, this is a good choice.
It's not technically necessary to have read the previous Planetfall books prior to Before Mars, as each one is written as a stand alone story. However, the books together form pieces of a larger picture, the richness of which is better appreciated by having done so.
After Atlas gave us a glimpse of a future Earth, ruled by corporate governments, horrifying contracts, and profit. Before Mars continues in the same vein, and provides a bleak look at a world that seems less implausible now than it used to.
The main character, Anna, struggles with her feelings about her family, and in particular, her inability to fully embrace her role as a mother. It is extremely rare for people to talk about this, and about post-natal depression and how it really feels when you have to deal with it day after day. I have to applaud Newman for being brave enough to put what are obviously her own issues right out there on the page for everyone to see. Some people will find Anna completely unrelatable, but others, I suspect will silently feel the sense of understanding that comes from seeing something of themselves in the pages.
There is a heavy emotional and psychological side here that may not appeal to everyone, but if you like your mysteries told from an place of extreme personal honesty by the characters, this is a good choice.
It's not technically necessary to have read the previous Planetfall books prior to Before Mars, as each one is written as a stand alone story. However, the books together form pieces of a larger picture, the richness of which is better appreciated by having done so.
Didn't realize it was the third book in a series until after. That explains a lot. Still very good!
*I was sent this for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
I am SO glad I read this. It's officially my new favourite for the year, and that's becuase it made me cry. I am the sort of person who cries easily at films, but when it comes to books, I very rarely do unless the characters I love are threatened (looking at you Ms. Hobb) or the topic is so emotionally heartfelt it hits where it hurts (yep, this book falls into that category). For me, this one had a bit of both, but it's more about the themes and the way Emma writes than anything else. This story is exceptionally well detailed, beautifully evocative, and personally raw, honest and open. I feel like even though this whole book is set on Mars, I learned some very real truths about humans and humanity by reading this story.
This follows the journey of Anna Kubrin, a painter and geologist, who is going to Mars on funding from GaborCorp (one of the richest and most powerful companies on Earth) to paint and study. She has had a 6-month journey to get to Mars, and when she does things aren't quite as she expected they would be and she finds herself feeling detached from her home life and lost on Mars. Anna's story quickly takes a scary turn when she finds a painted note in her rooms (which she believes is in her own hand) and a footprint on an area of Mars believed unexplored. Things just don't really seem to be adding up and it looks like she's going to have to try and tie everything together and uncover some harsh truths.
Alongside the mystery and story we follow Anna on, we also follow her emotional and mental journey as she adjusts to life away from her family and on an entirely new planet. She's unsure about how she can go back to her mundane lifestyle after this, and at the same time she's having feelings for her crew that she can't understand. There's a lot to trouble her, and when other people like Principia (the AI based on Mars for the GaborCorp) and her others start to pop up in her subconscious, she knows that bad things are happening.
There is a lot of discussion of motherhood and postnatal depression in this book. It's done so incredibly well, fitting in with the story, the character and the situation. She's a mother who doesn't fit the mothers you see in adverts, she's a woman who doesn't fit society's mould of how you should act and what technology you should consume, basically, Anna is pretty interesting.
Again we have a non-binary character called Petranek and ze uses non-binary pronouns throughout. We also have all sorts of crazy new technology like printed food, intelligent AIs and life on Mars, it's pretty damn cool.
Overall, the last few chapters of this book hit me HARD and made me teary to the point where I have to admit I was crying and not just teary-eyed. The ending of this story is raw and devastating, emotional and heavy, but there is also hope and love and forgiveness, and basically all the feels you could want at once. I then also read the acknowledgements, and boy, they hit just as hard. Exceptional, amazing, and truly a master of her craft, Emma Newman does it again. 5*s of course.
I am SO glad I read this. It's officially my new favourite for the year, and that's becuase it made me cry. I am the sort of person who cries easily at films, but when it comes to books, I very rarely do unless the characters I love are threatened (looking at you Ms. Hobb) or the topic is so emotionally heartfelt it hits where it hurts (yep, this book falls into that category). For me, this one had a bit of both, but it's more about the themes and the way Emma writes than anything else. This story is exceptionally well detailed, beautifully evocative, and personally raw, honest and open. I feel like even though this whole book is set on Mars, I learned some very real truths about humans and humanity by reading this story.
This follows the journey of Anna Kubrin, a painter and geologist, who is going to Mars on funding from GaborCorp (one of the richest and most powerful companies on Earth) to paint and study. She has had a 6-month journey to get to Mars, and when she does things aren't quite as she expected they would be and she finds herself feeling detached from her home life and lost on Mars. Anna's story quickly takes a scary turn when she finds a painted note in her rooms (which she believes is in her own hand) and a footprint on an area of Mars believed unexplored. Things just don't really seem to be adding up and it looks like she's going to have to try and tie everything together and uncover some harsh truths.
Alongside the mystery and story we follow Anna on, we also follow her emotional and mental journey as she adjusts to life away from her family and on an entirely new planet. She's unsure about how she can go back to her mundane lifestyle after this, and at the same time she's having feelings for her crew that she can't understand. There's a lot to trouble her, and when other people like Principia (the AI based on Mars for the GaborCorp) and her others start to pop up in her subconscious, she knows that bad things are happening.
There is a lot of discussion of motherhood and postnatal depression in this book. It's done so incredibly well, fitting in with the story, the character and the situation. She's a mother who doesn't fit the mothers you see in adverts, she's a woman who doesn't fit society's mould of how you should act and what technology you should consume, basically, Anna is pretty interesting.
Again we have a non-binary character called Petranek and ze uses non-binary pronouns throughout. We also have all sorts of crazy new technology like printed food, intelligent AIs and life on Mars, it's pretty damn cool.
Overall, the last few chapters of this book hit me HARD and made me teary to the point where I have to admit I was crying and not just teary-eyed. The ending of this story is raw and devastating, emotional and heavy, but there is also hope and love and forgiveness, and basically all the feels you could want at once. I then also read the acknowledgements, and boy, they hit just as hard. Exceptional, amazing, and truly a master of her craft, Emma Newman does it again. 5*s of course.
This is really a thriller disguised as a science fiction novel. Really enjoyable though. The main characters relationship with her daughter and her husband ring as true to something that the author felt and the whole plot around what happened on mars is very tightly woven.