In 2073, a controversial agronomist and an Emirati businessman join forces to develop sustainable food sources for the Moon’s first colony, navigating political intrigue, eco-terrorist threats, and the challenges of cross-cultural collaboration. Against a backdrop of climate crisis and societal upheaval, the story explores themes of scientific innovation, resistance to change, and the complexities of love—both queer and straight—in a multicultural, near-future setting.

Reader Review Summary

Set in 2073, this near-future science fiction novel follows Dr. Alex Cole, a controversial agronomist specializing in mutagenetic food, as she is recruited to the Moon’s first lunar colony by Mansoor Al Kaabi, a charismatic Emirati businessman seeking a sustainable food supply for his luxury hotel. The story unfolds across both the Moon and Earth, with Alex and Mansoor working to establish lunar agriculture while facing opposition from eco-terrorists, and Mansoor’s brother Rashid and eccentric genius Victor Beard lobbying for the Homestead Act to enable lunar colonization. The narrative is told through four points of view, weaving together scientific challenges, political intrigue, and two romantic subplots—one between Alex and Mansoor, and another between Rashid and Victor. The book explores themes of climate change, food security, cross-cultural dynamics, and the ethical dilemmas of space colonization, with a multicultural and LGBTQ+ cast and a focus on both scientific and personal stakes.

Readers praised the book’s engaging and accessible depiction of near-future science, particularly the plausibility of lunar agriculture and the integration of climate change and food scarcity issues. The multicultural and Muslim representation, especially of the Emirati brothers, was frequently highlighted as respectful and well-researched, with several reviewers noting the author’s use of sensitivity readers and attention to cultural detail. The multiple POV structure and the balance between the two romantic subplots were appreciated, with many readers finding the characters’ arcs compelling and the relationships—both MF and MM—emotionally resonant. The political and scientific world-building, as well as the realistic depiction of the challenges facing the Moon colony, were also cited as strengths, and the book’s pacing and mix of action, romance, and intrigue kept many readers invested.

Some readers expressed dissatisfaction with the pacing, noting that time jumps and rapid plot progression sometimes made character development and relationship arcs feel rushed or unearned. The political aspects, particularly the depiction of eco-terrorists and the ethics of space colonization, were critiqued by readers who felt the narrative oversimplified or dismissed legitimate concerns about environmentalism and the morality of lunar expansion. Several reviewers wanted more depth in the scientific and political details, feeling that the book sometimes told rather than showed key developments, and that secondary characters were underdeveloped. Additionally, some readers were disappointed by the imbalance between the two romantic subplots, with the queer romance receiving less page time, fewer POV chapters, and less explicit development compared to the heterosexual pairing, despite the book’s marketing as LGBTQ+ inclusive.

The book has an average reader rating of 4.26 out of 5 from 78 ratings and 52 full reviews, indicating a generally positive reception with a range of opinions. It is positioned as a blend of science fiction, romance, queer, LGBT, adult, and workplace genres, and is compared to works like Sea of Tranquility and Winter’s Orbit. The author, Claire Barner, is noted for her debut effort, and the book’s multicultural and LGBTQ+ representation is a recurring topic in both the narrative and the author’s afterword. The story’s focus on the intersection of science, politics, and personal relationships, as well as its exploration of contemporary issues projected into a near-future setting, are central to its appeal and discussion among readers.