This is near-future SF with a strong romantic arc - I think it will appeal more to SF readers than to sci-fi romance readers (e.g. no blue alien peen for you!). The world building is strong, and the underlying political plot is intricate and well-constructed. Barner does a great job of making me care about three billionaire characters I'd normally be rooting against (!!).

In fact, I found Barner's narrative choices really fascinating. We have 4 MCs, including 3 men who are influencing American politics with their money, and 1 woman whose life's work is creating and perfecting genetically mutated food. Barner's greatest feat is making the reader believe that these four truly have the best intentions for the future of all humanity.

I especially liked the moon colony setting! So much SF is set on already-established colony worlds that this felt both refreshing and like a return to classic SF focused on the creation of intra-solar system colonies. I think this is perfect for an SF reader who'd like to dip their toe into romance!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

2073. Dr Alex Cole is a leading researcher in one of the most controversial scientific fields: mutagenic foods. Climate change has created climate refugees who have no access to fresh foods, and Alex believes mutagenic food can help save them. Mutagenic food has a bad rap in the United States, thought, and Alex is often the target of an environmental terrorist group. Victor Beard, genius and one time investor in Big Ag supporting Alex's research, has abandoned agriculture for rocketry. Working with UAE billionaire visionary Mansoor Al Kaabi, they convince NASA to hire Alex to help grow her mutagenic crops on the moon in an effort to make the colony self-supporting, and to supply fresh food to Mansoor's luxury lunar hotel. Mansoor is desperate to spend time on the colony himself, and his younger brother, Rashid, is desperate to start making a name for himself worthy of his family, so Rashid steps into Mansoor's shoes, working closely with Victor to lobby for support of the lunar colony expansion.

With four main characters, all of them complicated and messy people, I was a little nervous about how Claire Barner was going to pull off her debut. As a character driven reader who also loves multiple factors driving the plot, this book ended up a big hit for me. Even though a large portion of this book takes place on the moon, every bit of it is believable to me, from the rejection of mutagenic foods to the moon-based scientists frantically working with their limited time to conducting experiments, to the incredibly bad decisions Alex makes by continuing to sleep with someone who ideologically opposes the thing she is most passionate about. Science fiction like this is successful because it makes the near future feel like a reality.

I loved the dual romantic plotlines, and the balance between the two: neither romance holds more weight than the other, and I was equally invested in Alex and Mansoor as I was in Victor and Rashid. The relationships are intimately tied to and critical for the plot, but not the whole focus of the book, which works especially well in a science fiction setting for me.

In this story we follow the personal and political stories of an agricultural scientist, billionaire investor, rocket scientist, and artist turned lobbyist as they support and imagine life on the moon. The variety of perspectives shown through the multiple POVs pushed forward the plot, continually keeping my interest, and building out the state of the near-future sci-fi setting. I really enjoyed how all of the characters we follow in the book are all intelligent, yet still fallible. It was easy to root for them as they tackled their problems and my heart tightened for them when they made mistakes.

In terms of the romance in the book, while the relationships are key to the story, there's more focus on the drama surrounding the moon colony. However, I liked this balance as I feel the action supported the develop the characters while the romance felt like an exciting bonus.

The subject of life on the moon in this book was with a great balance of scientific details and the poetics of life on the moon. For example, it was fun to read about Alex's advancements cultivating her plants as well as her beautiful reflections on life in space. She says, "I've been fighting against what we've done to our planet my entire career, but I never saw how vulnerable Earth is until today. We're so fragile and space is so vast."

What made this book stand out to me was the politics in this book. I won't go into the details, but it was interesting to see how Barner blended many of our current world's problems with the issues of bigger issues of climate change. The issues of her world will definitely be what sticks with me the longest.

The weakest part of the story is that the ending was a bit predictable and too easily wrapped up all the issues present through the whole book. Though I give it more of a pass, because it seems that wrapping up the romance is more of a priority at the end. Also, I'll continue to think of the lessons the characters learned and the issues brought up through the world building.

DNF 43%

I really tried to give this one a shot, the first POV was fairly interesting and i was curious to see how it goes. But then more POVs got added and I think the plot was lost. I can’t seem to understand what the point / conflict/story is going, and most of the chapter POVs are boring and uninteresting.

I wanted to like this because sci fi is such an underrepresented genre , and i want more of it, but this one fell flat for me.

I appreciate a strong fmc as much as the next person, but I wasnt a fan of Alex. The story didnt draw me in either so I have dnf’d.

3.5 stars rounded up

There is a lot to love about Moonrising. It’s a compulsive, easy read I found myself eager to pick it up. The science aspects are well thought out, but we don’t dive too deep into any one concept, which makes this an approachable sci-fi.

Comparing Moonrising to other space colony books I’ve read, I’d say it’s more along the lines of Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson instead of The Martian by Andy Weir, mostly due the fact that the plot more heavily focuses on the political aspects of colonization.

As much as I enjoyed reading this, there were a few aspects that lowered my rating. The pacing was a little wonky. There were parts of the story where months happened in a few paragraphs. I understand that time jumps need to happen to move the story along, but there was no lead up to them, which made them feel jarring. Translation between times and places could have used a little more finesse. The relationships didn’t feel earned to me. Personally, I needed more depth and explorations of the character for their relationships to feel satisfied in how they progressed.

I’m not sure if the author plans on making this a series, but I can absolutely see the potential to expand the story and characters. I would be interested in reading future books!

Thank you to Net Galley and the author for providing me a copy for review.

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher Diversion Books, and author Claire Barner for providing an eARC. I'm leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
.
.
.
The worst part about this book is that it <i>ended</i>.

I loved it so much. Honestly. Zero complaints.

Me reading this:

<img src="https://media.tenor.com/bdHOD0odzF0AAAAe/spectacular-give-it-to-me.png" height="300"/>

This was such an engrossing story on morality and just how far people will go to fight for their beliefs and their passions. The concept of (basically) GMO food becoming necessary and the factions against it, the carbon footprint and pollution concern of space travel, the fear-mongering and rejection of science and how beliefs can sometimes override science, plus cultural differences... my god this was a fascinating study.

I did not expect a quad-POV narrative, but I was totally hooked. Each perspective had a unique voice, giving each character depth and immersion. My favorite was (to my surprise) Mansoor, who I never expected to identify with given he's a betrothed Emirati semi-royal kajillionaire trying to turn his family's oil money into something morally palatable (genius billionaire playboy philanthropist?), but I loved his vision and his drive, even if I didn't love some of the personal decisions he made along the way. That's what makes a great character, I think: when I can disagree with them but still love them.

Don't get me wrong, I also loved agronomist Alex with her experimental plants and secret contraband chickens. I thought her passion and steadfast tenacity in her beliefs despite being faced with literal armed terrorists was awe-inspiring. And Rashid was so much more than just Mansoor's brother, with his own motivations and dreams and the pressures of being the youngest son. Being the youngest, anything he succeeds at will simply be meeting expectations and not considered significant, but any toes out of line would bring great shame and embarrassment on the whole family just by association. Nonetheless, watching Rashid come into his own talents and realize his potential was a tender and inspiring journey. I'd be remiss not to give our last POV character, Victor, some love too. Poor Victor, absolutely a genius but less charismatic than Mansoor, is going through a divorce and I get the feeling he's undoubtedly on the spectrum, given the main reason for his divorce is repeatedly missing social cues. I have such a soft spot for Victor, I just wanna give him a big ol' hug, but I think he'd probably hate it.

I really don't know how this book managed to cram two separate romances, four POVs, a space race, scientific breakthroughs, terrorism, a hostage situation, LGBTQ rights, politics, and a whole bunch more into only 330 pages without feeling like any corners were cut, but it did! These 330 pages flew by and, again, I was left wanting so much more not because I was seeking answers or I felt unfulfilled, but because I was so satisfied I wanted to keep indulging. This is an insane debut, and Claire Barner is definitely a new voice to sci-fi and romance that I'll be thrilled to see more from.

Bonus: REPRESENTATIONNNNNNNNN let's hear it for sensitivity readers and getting guidance on how to respectfully depict other cultures! Because yes, Rashid and Mansoor are Muslim. They're not very good Muslims (by their own admission) but at one point Mansoor pauses and upon reflecting on some recent events, feels like he should pray, and the scene is handled so beautifully and (as far as I, a white agnostic woman, can tell) respectfully. There's also some Arabic phrases spoken throughout the book, and some social interactions that take place in the UAE that required particular handling to be culturally appropriate, and I really really love the care and thought that was put into this by the author and her sensitivity readers.

I went in blind to this book and couldn’t really remember the blurb, which honestly made it more fun. This story was a little genre-defying - can a dystopian sci-fi heavy on political plotlines really feel so cozy and romantic? - but I enjoyed it. The pacing was a little slow in the middle but the concluding conflict was worth the buildup.

It was thought-provoking and poignant, and nothing like what I expected.

Read if watching Matt Damon grow potatoes on the moon in The Martian made you want to get in touch with your inner farmer.

Thanks to Netgalley and Diversion Books for providing me with a copy of the book.

I read a lot of science fiction, but not much near-future, so this was a bit of a new experience for me. I enjoyed it! The plot unfolded in a satisfying way, where I couldn’t predict every development but nothing came out of left field either. I liked the characters, though I’ll admit I was most invested in Victor and Rashid, and wished they’d been the primary focus rather than Alex and Mansoor (who were fine; I just didn’t love them quite as much).

As a non-Muslim U.S. American, I’m not able to comment on the quality of the Emirati Muslim rep, but I appreciated that the author worked with sensitivity readers and detailed some of the research she did to try to respectfully portray those characters.

Overall, a solid story set in a believable near-future world, populated by generally likable characters who grapple with complex scientific and societal challenges that are new but still feel relevant to the world we live in today.

(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)

I’m still finding my footing and developing my taste in sci-fi, and finding stories like this that are a perfect blend of sci-fi and romance is really helping me to do that.

Moonrising takes place in the near-future and focuses on four characters (and their relationships with each other), each with their own roles in helping humanity in post-climate change world. While I’m still learning to appreciate the more scientific and political aspects of sci-fi, I absolutely loved the characters, and found all four POVs to be super compelling.

Alex and Mansoor’s immediate handholding on the spaceship had me giggling, but Victor and Rashid quickly became my favorite characters (other than Drake, who randomly stole my heart!). 

The last paragraph is absolute perfection and had me tearing up and smiling to myself like an idiot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Diversion Books for the ARC- all thoughts my own!

Oh man I really wish I loved this book. I was so excited going in, especially with those comp titles, but this just didn't land for me.

I found the world of this book deeply fascinating. The political climate of the end of the 21st century well written and had me hooked from the first chapter. I also really enjoyed all of the science, to the point of enjoying the mundane day to day running of a colony on the moon. The world and the character's felt generally really well thought out, and felt very real as a result. Each POV had such a strong and unique voice it really felt like being in their head.

My favorite couple were without a doubt Rashid and Victor. I wish we had had more time with them, they were so sweet and fit so well together.

I was less sold on Alex and Mansoor. I loved Alex as a character, but Mansoor rubbed me wrong the entire book. Why did no one else find it creepy that he found a woman and was so interested in her that he put her in a position to be isolated on the moon where he would have constant access? I wanted to route for him and his desires for space colonization but I do actually find him accelerationist and cruel in his focus to escape from our home planet, even if he was doing it for the sake of the human race. Maybe I've just lost my taste for billionaires trying to escape into space recently.

Much of the story ended up feeling sort of... empty. The many months long timeskips were likely required for the book not to feel stagnant but made me feel like we were both moving too fast and not fast enough, because we would jump forward only for our main characters to be doing the exact same thing they were doing 4 months ago. I found the world interesting enough that this wasn't always horrible but it was always slightly jarring and didn't quite fit in my mind.

Ultimately I enjoyed my read and wouldn't be against reading more from this universe/author but I was left a bit disappointed by the story as a whole.

A fun and gripping SciFi read!

I enjoyed the characters quite a bit, and I feel like they were developed quite well. The multi POV was a little hard to follow at times, but it was still done well enough that I could differentiate them pretty well by mid-book.

I'm a huge sci-fi fan, and I appreciate that it really felt like a futuristic society, and that the language wasn't too "current".

Okay so this was my first foray into eco fic sci fi and I am so glad it was my entry point.

I really love so much about this, the dose of reality while being futuristic, the authentic characters, but mostly I love that this has a love story element to it.

So here I am, screaming in reviews to publishers: more romance in sci fi please!

With the tagline invoking Winter’s Orbit (one of my absolute favorite books), this is a big letdown for me. The characters just didn’t connect. The formatting was weird, it seemed like there were missing transitions/parts, the relationship between Alex and Mansoor was mediocre at best. I also expected more points of view from Victor and Rashid, who I liked way more than Alex and Mansoor.
Unfortunately this was a miss for me.

4.5⭐️ rounded up.

So you know the movie WALL-E? Earth became a total wasteland so they sent a ship to outer space while WALL-E tried to clean up the planet. Well this isn’t a Disney movie and the earth isn’t destroyed…yet.

The overall plot is very timely (billionaires going to space?) even though it’s set in the not so distant future. There’s action, intrigue, romance, you really get it all.

Alex is a scientist who’s kind of hated for her work in mutagenic plants. Years before someone messed it up and now no one trusts it. Her friends and mentor Victor has moved on from ag work and decides to build a rocket to the moon. Unbeknownst to Alex, Victor is working with a wealthy businessman, Mansoor.

Mansoor and his family are funding a new moon hotel (transport vehicle by Victor) but they’re ultimately hoping by inhabiting the moon, they can alleviate some of the stresses on the earth. Together Mansoor and Alex travel to the moon where she begins working to raise fresh produce in the lunar environment.

Back on earth, Victor is working with Mansoor’s younger brother, Rashid to get additional U.S support for a lunar colony.

Oh, and there’s an eco terrorist group trying to upend everything.

The relationship with Mansoor and Alex is one of mutual respect and real fun to watch. Then there’s Victor and Rashid and I absolutely adore the two of them.

I was a little concerned at the beginning because Mansoor and Rashid are Muslim and from Abu Dhabi and I hoped their culture and beliefs were presented accurately and fairly. To my great relief it was and the author even enlisted the aid of a third party to ensure accuracy.

Enjoyment: 4.5
Start: 2
Characters: 4.25
Setting: 3
Plot: 3.5
Ending: 5
Style: 4.25
Rating: .79

Moonrising surprised me. It takes the problems of today and shows us what could happen in the near future. I wasn't expecting to enjoy this novel, and didn't in the start, but I'm glad I continued reading! Moonrising has two subtle romances mixed in with the scifi as well as a very respectful look at Middle Eastern rep. I'm normally not a scifi reader, but I've enjoyed a few over the years. This book really managed to pull me in quickly after the initial chapter, and I'm so glad I continued to read it.

This book gives us four very different perceptives on people all trying to do the same thing: save the earth. Each one brings a unique view point and experience to the table.

10/10 will buy and recommend!

Thank you to Diversion books for the eARC of Moonrising! This book is absolutely right up my alley as it combines biology (agronomy Alex would want me to say) and astronomy, two of my favorite things! Set in the near future, climate change has made it so that historical crops don't grow well in their traditional habitats and access to fresh food is incredibly limited. Agronomist Alex has spent her career making mutagenic fruits and vegetables, which are vilified by Americans due to a previous lack of regulation and oversight. When the opportunity to research at the first lunar colony arises, she can't refuse,
I loved watching the relationships between Alex and Emirati hotelier Mansoor develop along with the lunar colonies greenhouses! This is one of my favorite kinds of science fiction stories ~ great characters, interesting setting, and enough science that I can read without being pulled out of the story. I couldn't put it down!

The plot of starting a colony on the moon and creating an ecosystem to grow mutagenetic food was really exciting! I thought the characters were well-developed and diverse — each had a clear identity and deep passion, whether it was for science, faith, art, or another driving force. Their individual motivations felt real. I also appreciated the multiple points of view, which allowed us to follow two distinct romantic relationships. Each romance was portrayed in a way that felt true to the characters and added emotional depth to the narrative. There was also a great balance with exploring both the best and worst of humanity, emphasizing on coming together and working towards a common goal across all peoples. Overall, this was something I enjoyed. Thank you to NetGalley and Diversion Books for the ARC!

A cozy book that defies genres. Yes, it is sci-fi because it takes place in the year 2073 and mostly on a moon base. Sure, there are two romantic relationships you root for. But it is not just science fiction or romance. The work is beautifully written, hopeful, and surprisingly timely for a novel about the future. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Gorgeously written, set in a super believable near-future, with not one but TWO incredible romances. This book is not just for sci-fi people, trust me!