The Daedalus Incident (Daedalus Incident #1) by Michael J. Martinez

Science Fiction

From Goodreads:

Mars is supposed to be dead.…

Bizarre quakes are rumbling over the long-dormant tectonic plates of the planet, disrupting its trillion-dollar mining operations and driving scientists past the edges of theory and reason. However, when rocks shake off their ancient dust and begin to roll—seemingly of their own volition—carving canals as they converge to form a towering structure amid the ruddy terrain, Lt. Jain and her JSC team realize that their routine geological survey of a Martian cave system is anything but. The only clues they have stem from the emissions of a mysterious blue radiation, and a 300-year-old journal that is writing itself.

Lt. Thomas Weatherby of His Majesty’s Royal Navy is an honest 18th-century man of modest beginnings, doing his part for King and Country aboard the HMS Daedalus, a frigate sailing the high seas between continents…and the immense Void between the Known Worlds.

With the aid of his fierce captain, a drug-addled alchemist, and a servant girl witha remarkable past, Weatherby must track a great and powerful mystic, who has embarked upon a sinister quest to upset the balance of the planets—the consequences of which may reach far beyond the Solar System, threatening the very fabric of space itself.

Two Earths – Two Different Times.  That is the premise of The Daedalus Incident.

I loved the world building.  While one Earth is set in 2132 with science that matches ours the other is set in 1779 and the science is nothing like ours.  In fact it allows sailing ships to travel in space used alchemy to keep gravity and air as they sail the Void. The first two chapters introduce both worlds and as the story progresses those worlds begin to interact and not in a good way.

The two main characters for each world have to match their time.  They have one thing in common.  Both are members of the British Royal Navy.  Lt. Jain from 2132 is female and a pilot.  Lt. Weatherby has the attitudes from 1779 and does not think females are the equal of males.  It is fun when they finally meet.

While there are similar plots around what makes this book unique is the setting.  Lt. Jain is faced with events that make no sense.  The danger Lt. Weatherby faces is revealed early in the book.  Both are related.  It takes a long journey for Jain to realize what is going on.  Weatherby also faces a long journey to stop the danger to both worlds.  It does take characters from both worlds working together in the end.

Martinez dishes out clues in very small doses.  There was just enough in each chapter to keep the story going.  I found that once I started reading I did not want to stop.   There is a solution at the end but that solution leaves a big problem for the next book in the series, The Enceladus Crisis.  Book three, The Venusian Gambit will be released in May this year.  There is also a novella, The Gravity Affair.

This is a great book for Science Fiction lovers but will also satisfy Alternate History fans.

Night Shade Books published TheDaedalus Incident by Michael J. Martinex in 2013.

Ice Red (Once Upon a Red World #1) by Jael Wye

 Science Fiction Romance

 What Goodreads says:

"Mirror, mirror, full of stars,
Who will claim the throne of Mars?
The princess: Engineer Bianca Ross, heir to a megacorporation and the Mars elevator, needs to acquire a mine on the surface to secure her place in the company. All that stands in her way is the mine's charming owner, Cesare Chan.
The evil stepmother: Victoria Ross is plotting to gain control of Mars. She plans to assassinate Bianca and seduce Cesare to further her goals, and Bianca's trip is the perfect opportunity.
The charming prince: Cesare shouldn't get involved. Bianca's visit could reveal the escaped slaves he's hiding at his mine, but he can't ignore a damsel in distress—especially one as beautiful as Bianca.
Alone, neither would stand a chance against Victoria. But together, they could rewrite a tale that's meant to end with Bianca's blood."

This is a fun Science Fiction Romance set on Mars. 

Worldbuilding:  The story did not need much.  Most of the action is set on Mars and we all know what the surface is like.  There is mention of how humans are surviving as they change the surface of the planet. A little is told about the Space Elevator and what is happening in the rest of the Solar System.  

Characters:  There are two main characters, Bianca Ross and Cesare.  They are fleshed out and we know a lot about each as the story builds.  Not much was required to build the character of Victoria Ross, the evil step-mother.  All you had to know about her was told when she looked into her mirror.  There are other side characters whose development depended on their place in the story.

Plot:  Victoria plans to start her take over of the Solar System with Mars and she needs to get rid of Biana.  Lots of danger and tension fill the story with a romance thrown in for spice.   The development of the romance was mixed into the story in a very believable way and lead to a  HEA for Bianca and Cesare.  This is book one so look for hooks for future books and a few things left unsolved.

Writing:  The story was well-written, moved smoothly and built to a great climax.

This is a nice Science Fiction Romance.  I loved the fact that the romance built up as the story progressed.  It felt very real.  Ice Red is a great choice for SFR fans.  As an additional  plus we can look forward to other books in the Once Upon a Red Planet series.

Carina Press published Ice Red by Jael Wye in 2013.

I received an ARC of Ice Red from Netgalley.