SYNOPSIS

Carrie Davenport is the lead person in a team of three writing a constitution for the first humans living on Mars. After being profiled, she rethinks her approach to designing it.

What could happen?

RECAP AND REVIEW

Thank you to NetGalley, IBPA, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available now!

This is currently a standalone sci-fi, speculative fiction, literary book told from the third person.

Carrie is a constitutional law professor, initially looking forward to writing a constitution for the first Mars settlers, though that excitement sours as she sobers to the gravity of the situation.

Not only is she setting the groundwork for a future in Mars, but she’s working with two white men, one of whom undermines her and has opposing (racist) views and the other who tries to keep the peace, but remains neutral in doing so.

What happens in her personal life towards the beginning of the book bleeds into her professional life. Her profiling and experience with police brutality becomes national news and it creates a domino effect for what happens later.

It was hard for me to connect to one of the characters, because I think outside the major event, their bonding happens off page.

I enjoyed the themes and messaging in this book about race, diversity, and the red tape that can get in the way. Carrie becomes thoughtful and intentional about how she believes a governing body should run, and does what she can to make things right.

This book is reflective and speculative, thinking about where we are as a society and what needs to happen for future generations to be better.

Read for:

📜 Black and Queer FMC

📜 Constitutional law

📜 Planning for a future Mars settlement

📜 Social justice themes

📜 Reflective and speculative

📜 Fight for diversity initiatives

OVERALL

Overall, I give this a 4 out of 5 stars. Going in, I was expecting something a little different, but I’m not mad about what it is. It sparks needed conversation about and examines government and society, as well as the roles of billionaires, politicians, those trying to maintain status quo, and those challenging and striving for improvements.