This is, above every other aspect, a retelling of Pride and Prejudice. It is adapted to a science fiction setting. Overall I would say that it is a pretty good retelling. Some of the characters from the original are parsed together in interesting ways.

The author talks to us about bodily autonomy and fundamental rights, including reproductive rights. Consent is discussed quite often, and I feel it does a good job of breaking down the principles of enthusiastic consent.

Our FMC finds herself very drawn to Martian law. That particular aspect I very much liked. It does echo P&P’s Elizabeth in that they are both quite intelligent and are avid readers. I could see Elizabeth Bennet studying law.

This book also is inclusive of those who fall outside the gender binary. Non-hetero couplings are included as well.

The depiction of AI, and the Intelligence in particular, is what I would call critical. Its speech is jarring. The vernacular pulls me out of the book, disrupting the reading experience.

Be sure to read the content warnings at the beginning! My anxiety was mostly quiet with this book but there were a couple of points where it did kick off, so I will check this *Yes* on the Anxiety, but it was just a little bit for me.

As for the smut element: There is some BDSM. It doesn’t overtake the story, but it is there. Otherwise, the smut was not obtrusive but not particularly innovative.

I regret to say that the author neglected including a scene involving a white shirt and a lake. An opportunity missed, unfortunately. But we do get him heaving, covered in blood, holding an axe, so that's something.

<b>“Give me my freedom. Over my body. Over my future.”</b>

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and loved the themes that it explored. The coverage of bodily autonomy, consent, and traditional gender roles was inspiring to “expect more” from our lives. Also loved the coverage of AI, climate change, and the parts that talked about America having the means to provide for everyone but unfortunately it is not a fundamental value here.

The only feedback I have is that the love story felt a bit rushed, but at the same time I think that was a big point of the book that it was not a typical romance, and more focused on Vivian’s journey and the topics mentioned above.

Overall, the book covered so many important topics that was done really well and in a way that left me feeling empowered and hopeful for the future as women!! Excited for it to come out to be able to discuss with my friends.

I was very lucky to get an ARC of this book from NetGalley, and I’m so glad I did!

Imagine a future when disadvantaged Earth women are contracted to go through risky pregnancies on Mars because Martians themselves cannot reproduce and a sentient AI told them this was the best way. You contract your womb away without knowing just how much you’re risking and giving up, but you quickly learn just how much you’ve signed away. Now imagine Mr. Darcy is there to help you defend your autonomy. Yes please!

This book was an awesome P&P retelling. The homage to the characters and the original storyline are clear and well-done without the author feeling like she had to stick too closely to the original characters and story. I never felt like this book was constrained by being a rewrite; the author departed from the original story whenever it was what HER story needed and truly made it her own.

The characters were interesting, realistic, and complex. The story was fast-paced and kept me hooked the entire time. The scifi and romance aspects were both integral to the story and complemented one another. I really like the entire concept of this dystopia, and the AI talking exactly how ChatGPT does was witty and well-done.

This is an excellent and thoughtful commentary on current affairs in the US while also being an entertaining read.

I found this book to be a very unique retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I like the science fiction aspect in the novel. I also like the compelling characters, and the writing style was engaging! I recommend this book for fans of Jane Austen!

It's Pride & Prejudice ON MARS! And I was so down for it!

I'd be willing to bet Barner is a Star Trek fan, as we see the same format used in many a Star Trek episode across all the shows of a colony where everyone gets really into recreating a specific time and place (i.e. the 19th century Ireland planet, the RenFaire planet, the 1930's Chicago planet, the 1990's small town American Midwest planet - that show had really gone over budget that season -, the Scottish Highlander romance novel planet, etc.)

In this story, the Martian colonists have gotten really into the Regency period, cos-playing Bridgeton, complete with all the delights of the Season:

"What does 'promenade' mean?"
"Walk," Luz said. "Pretentiously."

Mars, like so many human colonies throughout history, needs working wombs if its going to survive, and women from Earth and being imported in to chose a partner and start making babies, after courtship through a series of balls where they get to meet the local Martian men.

And so the P&P storyline plays out, beat for beat, on Mars, holding up surprisingly well to scrutiny, Jane Austen's wry commentary on human foibles still relevant, even in the future on a different planet. (The "Mr. Collins" proposal scene had me in almost tears of laughter!) But all throughout Barner points out what Austen was too constrained by society to say out loud - that these women have precious little choices, and are looking down the dangerous barrel of forced pregnancy.

Then, at about 3/4's through, the story takes a sharp left turn as Barner, like so many sci-fi authors, uses the genre to call out things going wrong in our present, reminding her present day American audience that, currently, we are f*cked by an educational system being dismantled, our bodily autonomy being taken away, health care disappearing, and climate change wreaking havoc.

In an action packed climax, Barner makes the uncomfortable point that sometimes might does make right, as we see real political change happen at the tip of a sword. (Never forget that there is a solid through line from Carrie Nation's ax to the 18th Amendment.) In a update on Teddy Roosevelt's political theory, Barner suggests carrying a law book in one hand and a broadsword in the other. It plays out surprisingly effectively.

Overall an excellent retelling of Pride and Prejudice, with things to say about past, present and future, all wrapped up perfectly in this wonderful book.

TL;DR: A woman tries to get the necessary money to support her family. The solution, as always, costs more than it appears.

Character (4): I liked the characters.
Intrigue (5): I was sneaking away or staying up late to read this book
Writing (4): There were a few things, but they were more speed bumps than exit ramps
Entertainment (5): I’ve quoted things to people or made sure I had quotations from the book for my notes

Popcorn Review: I could see this as a tv series much the way The Handmaid's Tale became successful that way. The tone is more dystopian than Pride and Prejudice and the discussion around women's autonomy over their own bodies is prominent. There are a few quotes directly from the book, or reenactments of specific scenes generally, but the book isn't the same.

When Claire Barner released her debut Moonrising last year, I said she was an author to watch.

And boy, look at her go!

The Red Woman on Mars is the book every angry woman needs right now. It's extremely (and regrettably) relevant, in the current climate of AI, bodily autonomy, access to healthcare, and women's rights. And when FMC Vivian picks up a sword in the middle of a government building and says "Enough!" I couldn't help but cheer. Fuck yeah, Vivian, enough is enough!

The book does start slow. I was firmly feeling this to be a 3-4 star read by the time I hit 38%. The first roughly 40% is a major focus on the Pride and Prejudice and regency vibes and does a lot of heavy lifting for the setup and world-building, blending the bygone Earth era with futuristic Mars settlements. But after the first Red Mother makes her match, things start happening, and they happen quickly. 41-100% of the book is fast paced, action packed, and I stayed up well past my bedtime to finish it in a single go. There's sword fights. There's kidnappings. There's politicking and alliances and nosy media and scandalous secret pasts and rival Martian domes vying for natural resources and intellectual property.

Vivian saves her sister from disgrace and danger (remember Kitty's scandalous elopement from P&P) and also saves MMC Counsellor Dorsey from a dangerous enemy. We love a woman who does the saving! There's also the AI overlord a la Skynet, watching everyone everywhere all the time. And the way it talks, the way it gaslights you, is terrifyingly familiar. It tries to get you to agree with it, using your name, and flattery, and phrases like "Isn't that right?" to get you to agree because look how sensible and logical it is. And that, frankly, is chilling.

Just like in Moonrising, Barner manages to pack a ton into a mere 320 pages, yet seemingly does not cut corners. At no point did I find any dropped plot threads or missed beats, everything had a satisfying explanation or resolution, and there is a HEA, it just might not be the HEA readers expect. Unlike Moonrising, which I believe was fad-to-black if memory serves, this book does contain some open door spice; it's not overly detailed, but it is there. And the tension that leads up to it is chef's kiss.

This book is peak feminine rage: when all else fails, take up a sword and start slashing.

I highly recommend The Read Woman on Mars to anyone with a pulse and a bit of anger in their veins.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

At first glance, The Red Woman on Mars sounds like a concept that shouldn’t quite work—Pride and Prejudice reimagined on Mars, filtered through speculative fiction and political commentary. And yet, what’s most striking is how naturally it all coheres. Barner doesn’t simply transpose Austen’s structure into a futuristic setting; she interrogates it, using the familiar framework to explore questions that feel urgent and distinctly modern.

The worldbuilding is where the novel quietly excels. The juxtaposition of Regency aesthetics with a highly controlled, almost clinical Martian society creates a tension that never fully resolves—and that’s exactly the point. Beneath the surface-level elegance (the balls, the courtship rituals, the performance of refinement) is a system built on constraint, particularly for women whose bodies are treated as both resource and obligation. The novel’s engagement with bodily autonomy, reproductive control, and the ethics of artificial intelligence is deliberate without becoming heavy-handed, allowing the reader to sit with the implications rather than be directed toward a single conclusion.

Vivian, as a protagonist, anchors the narrative effectively. Her internal conflict—between duty, survival, and the possibility of something more self-directed—feels grounded even as the circumstances around her are heightened. The romance, too, is handled with restraint. It develops in a way that feels earned rather than inevitable, which makes its emotional payoff more satisfying.

That said, the novel occasionally strains under the weight of its own ideas. There are moments where the thematic intent becomes more visible than the narrative itself, and certain tonal shifts—particularly around the portrayal of the Intelligence—can feel slightly jarring. Still, these are relatively minor disruptions in what is otherwise a cohesive and compelling story.

Ultimately, this is less a straightforward retelling and more a reframing—one that uses Austen as a foundation rather than a blueprint. Readers looking for a beat-for-beat adaptation may find it unexpected, but those open to a more interpretive approach will likely find it both engaging and thought-provoking.

I received an arc of this book through Netgalley.com Thank you for the opportunity to read this book early!

I would say, The Red Woman on Mars, is a dystopian Bridgeton style read with sprinkles of Pride and Prejudice and The Handmaid's Tale.

Two sisters doing what they can to survive in a Earth refuge camp after natural disasters destroy their home. Providing for their family and community they best they can... Opportunity strikes when a Mars recruitment program comes seeking women to bear the next generation of Martians. An escape from the dangerous encampment with limited resources.... only to arrive on a Mars with Martians who are obsessed with the Victorian era? Vivian and several other women do their best to navigate their limited time to date, promenade, learn Martian society and be a little kick ass.

I really enjoyed this book overall. If I had more details/depth in some areas of the book, I would have loved this book. There is so much potential to make this book great. Vivian was a great character to follow, compassionate and loving but will hold her ground when she needs to.

The ending notes from the author resonated with me in many ways. I can only hope our world becomes a better place. This book does deal with sexual assault, pregnancy and pregnancy loss, human trafficking and some some sexually explicit scenes.

“You are the last man in the world—this world or any other—that I could ever love.”

In a future Federation of America, hurricanes and rising ocean levels have wiped out a large chunk of land, displacing citizens into refugee camps. Vivian Bowen and her family live in one such camp after losing their home. It’s a lawless place where resources are hard to come by, and there’s a constant threat of bodily harm. When an opportunity presents itself to get her and her sister out in exchange for joining the Red Mothers Initiative, she jumps on it.

Mars doesn’t seem so bad at first, but upon realizing some of the specifics of her contract, Vivian finds it isn’t as appealing as she initially thought—nor does it seem ethical. Her strong will and decided opinions quickly get her into trouble, catching the attention of Xavier Dorsey, a politician who opposes the initiative.

The second half of the book is a wild ride, and I truly wasn’t sure where it was going. Vivian and Dorsey’s push and pull is incredibly entertaining throughout, and their relationship builds into something I hadn’t expected.

While bearing genetically modified children for the survival of Mars might seem ludicrous on the surface, the bigger real-world problems like climate change, artificial intelligence, bodily autonomy, and human rights deeply ground the story. Not only that, but Barner flips power dynamics on their head. It’s immensely satisfying to see Vivian grow into her own and tackle these subjects with the tenacity we would expect from our beloved Lizzy Bennet.