Plus get our latest book recommendations, author news, and competitions right to your inbox.
Table of Contents
About The Book
Vivian Bowen left Earth for Mars, seeking safety and a fresh start after seven long years trapped in a climate refugee camp. She’s determined to fulfill her contract as a Red Mother by selecting a Martian partner and bearing genetically modified children to fund her family’s survival back on Earth. In sixty days, everything will be secure.
But beneath the glamorous lifestyle of the Martian oligarchs, with luxurious gowns, lavish balls, and charming suitors, lies a dark reality. The Red Mothers initiative is controlled by the Intelligence, an AI worshipped as a god, who is indifferent to the pain and suffering the Red Mothers will experience as they carry out their contractual duties.
The last thing Vivian expects is to be drawn to Xavier Dorsey, a charismatic and infuriating Martian politician hell-bent on shutting down the Red Mothers initiative. As Xavier pushes her to imagine a life beyond mere survival, Vivian is torn between her obligation to her family and her own evolving dreams of a different future.
When her younger sister is seduced by a dangerous Martian soldier and breaks her contract—threatening the lives of their family back on Earth—Vivian is forced to act. Joining forces with Xavier and the Intelligence to rescue her sister by infiltrating an enemy Martian dome, Vivian discovers a strength and power inside herself she never knew she had.
Caught between the security she’s always craved and a future filled with passion and uncertainty, Vivian must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice for freedom—and for love.
Product Details
- Publisher: Diversion Books (September 15, 2026)
- Length: 320 pages
- ISBN13: 9798895151518
Browse Related Books
Raves and Reviews
“In this propulsive Pride and Prejudice retelling, an AI-run aristocracy and seven-foot suitors test the limits of a woman who arrives on Mars seeking safety but ignites a revolution. Smart, unapologetically sexy, and deeply feminist, The Red Woman on Mars is romance with rocket fuel.”
—T.E. Bean, author of Infinite Night Eyes
“Pride and Prejudice on Mars? Yes, please! The Red Woman on Mars delivers on every level of that fantastic premise, with clever worldbuilding, wickedly funny social satire, and a delightful romance at its heart. I'll read anything Claire Barner writes!”
—Alexandra Vasti, USA Today bestselling author
“[A] stormy sci-fi Pride and Prejudice riff...Barner creates a tangled web of passion and politics on the way to a triumphant ending….There’s also plenty of clever detailing to the worldbuilding....This fast-paced space romance is good fun.”
—Publishers Weekly
"Barner balances romance with sharp social commentary, offering a fresh take on a classic story while exploring what it means to belong in a place where everything has a cost."
—Booklist
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
-
Book Cover Image (jpg): The Red Woman on Mars
Trade Paperback 9798895151518
-
Author Photo (jpg): Claire Barner
(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit

