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Ares
Jayson Adams, the award-winning author of Infernum , delivers an exciting, fast-paced mystery set on the dusty red plains of Mars. Commander Kate Holman is on the verge of her life’s dream as the leader of the first manned mission to Mars. Minutes before setting foot on the red planet, her world comes crashing down when she’s abruptly relieved of command. Replaced by the mission’s security officer, she learns that a secret military objective is the true reason for their journey. What military purpose could Mars possibly hold? The question takes Kate to the fabled “Face on Mars” and a mysterious discovery excavated from deep within. Is it an exotic, new element? Evidence of life on the red planet? An alien artifact? Scurried away by the security officer, she can only speculate. An astronaut dies. Systems malfunction. Some claim it’s the result of a rumored Martian “curse” that won’t lift until the unearthed item is returned. Kate seeks a more rational explanation for the problems befalling the mission, but suffers under debilitating headaches and the fear of their possible connection to her past. When Kate uncovers the nature of the item, a secret some would kill to protect, can she overcome the powerful forces allied against her and make it back to Earth? Pre-order Ares at a special, limited-time price, and reserve your seat on the rocket today!
Visit www.fictionfactorybooks.com/ares for a preview
-- In the heart of winter, we received an anonymous manuscript with no return address or author details, only a cryptic note that read, “If it captivates you, it deserves to be shared.” The manuscript, titled Illusion's Edge , was a masterfully woven thriller, brimming with suspense and intricate characters that gripped us from the first page. Its chilling narrative and nuanced plot resonated with our love for quality literature, sparking a burning desire to share it with the world. Yet, we found ourselves in an unusual an author-less masterpiece. Undeterred, we devised a unique approach to finding our mystery author. We published a single copy of this mesmerizing tale, and displayed it in the storefront window of the city’s most frequented bookstore. Days turned to weeks, then months. Eventually, we began to accept that our author might forever remain a phantom storyteller. Months later, an elderly man walked into our office. He held up the book, the one published copy of the manuscript. He wasn’t happy. “Is this [so-and-so] publishing?” After I worked up the courage to confirm, he gritted his teeth and said, “You have a lot of explaining to do.” We’ve seen a lot of manuscripts in this business, so it takes a lot to get us excited. We're really excited about Ares . Compared to Adams’s debut Infernum , you can see how much he's grown as a writer. The prose is crisper, tighter. And as for the story, it sets a fast pace from page 1 that doesn’t let up. We can’t wait to get this title into your hands! Writing the synopsis was challenging because we had to balance describing the story with not giving away too much of the plot. We think we did a good job, though there's so much more that happens. If it doesn't sound the tiniest bit intriguing, you should not purchase this book. We’ve priced Ares to encourage pre-orders. However, once we reach our pre-sales goal, we’re going to bump it to the regular retail price. Our order your copy now. If you come back later and find a higher price, you’ll know what happened. If you’re a sci-fi reader in search of a riveting novel, Ares takes you on a heart-pounding rollercoaster of a mystery. Unlike other books that plod along or lose your interest a couple chapters in, Ares grabs you and doesn’t let go. Suspenseful and packed with twists and turns, you won’t want to put it down. www.fictionfactorybooks.com
Visit www.fictionfactorybooks.com/ares for a preview
-- In the heart of winter, we received an anonymous manuscript with no return address or author details, only a cryptic note that read, “If it captivates you, it deserves to be shared.” The manuscript, titled Illusion's Edge , was a masterfully woven thriller, brimming with suspense and intricate characters that gripped us from the first page. Its chilling narrative and nuanced plot resonated with our love for quality literature, sparking a burning desire to share it with the world. Yet, we found ourselves in an unusual an author-less masterpiece. Undeterred, we devised a unique approach to finding our mystery author. We published a single copy of this mesmerizing tale, and displayed it in the storefront window of the city’s most frequented bookstore. Days turned to weeks, then months. Eventually, we began to accept that our author might forever remain a phantom storyteller. Months later, an elderly man walked into our office. He held up the book, the one published copy of the manuscript. He wasn’t happy. “Is this [so-and-so] publishing?” After I worked up the courage to confirm, he gritted his teeth and said, “You have a lot of explaining to do.” We’ve seen a lot of manuscripts in this business, so it takes a lot to get us excited. We're really excited about Ares . Compared to Adams’s debut Infernum , you can see how much he's grown as a writer. The prose is crisper, tighter. And as for the story, it sets a fast pace from page 1 that doesn’t let up. We can’t wait to get this title into your hands! Writing the synopsis was challenging because we had to balance describing the story with not giving away too much of the plot. We think we did a good job, though there's so much more that happens. If it doesn't sound the tiniest bit intriguing, you should not purchase this book. We’ve priced Ares to encourage pre-orders. However, once we reach our pre-sales goal, we’re going to bump it to the regular retail price. Our order your copy now. If you come back later and find a higher price, you’ll know what happened. If you’re a sci-fi reader in search of a riveting novel, Ares takes you on a heart-pounding rollercoaster of a mystery. Unlike other books that plod along or lose your interest a couple chapters in, Ares grabs you and doesn’t let go. Suspenseful and packed with twists and turns, you won’t want to put it down. www.fictionfactorybooks.com
- GenresScience Fiction
479 pages, Hardcover
Published December 8, 2025
About the author
Jayson L. Adams
3 books16 followersAt age sixteen, Jayson dreamed of starting a software company and retiring by twenty-five. He achieved his dream just before thirty, working for the likes of Steve Jobs and selling one of his start-ups along the way. Five years later, he returned to computers with another start-up. He currently works at Google.
Computers were always Jayson’s creative outlet, the screen a “blank slate.” He now channels his creative energies into writing compelling science fiction.
Computers were always Jayson’s creative outlet, the screen a “blank slate.” He now channels his creative energies into writing compelling science fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 4, 2023
Frustrating book, the naivety of the lead character saw me put this down more than once determined not to read any further however the story itself was interesting and well written. Glad it’s not a series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2025
Bad science does not belong in good SCI-fi
In the author’s note, he asks for a review and 5-star rating. How audacious. Why should I do that? If you want a review, fine, but don’t tell me how to rate your book.
In fact, now that you asked, I have a big problem with it. I really couldn’t get past all the bad science. The very best SCI-Fi weaves real science -or at least science thst is possible - with a good story.
It is a creative and imaginative look into a possible future. But the entertainment value is highly dependent on believably. SCI-Fi fans know their science. No one would ever make a black space suit, for example. And so many others (I won’t list them because they are spoilers).
I rate it one star. The second star is just because he managed to finish the book.
In the author’s note, he asks for a review and 5-star rating. How audacious. Why should I do that? If you want a review, fine, but don’t tell me how to rate your book.
In fact, now that you asked, I have a big problem with it. I really couldn’t get past all the bad science. The very best SCI-Fi weaves real science -or at least science thst is possible - with a good story.
It is a creative and imaginative look into a possible future. But the entertainment value is highly dependent on believably. SCI-Fi fans know their science. No one would ever make a black space suit, for example. And so many others (I won’t list them because they are spoilers).
I rate it one star. The second star is just because he managed to finish the book.
October 19, 2024
absurd
I finally just gave up on this book when I realized there was no Science Fiction, but rather a murder mystery type book.
The very premise of what was going on, as well as the interactions between the occupants of the facility on Mars, borders on unbelievable.
The true reason they went to Mars and kept it a secret is just absurd
I finally just gave up on this book when I realized there was no Science Fiction, but rather a murder mystery type book.
The very premise of what was going on, as well as the interactions between the occupants of the facility on Mars, borders on unbelievable.
The true reason they went to Mars and kept it a secret is just absurd
November 3, 2023
The author must be punking us. The mars habitat sounds like an apartment complex. Each module has a sewage and gas line leading into it. One module had an explosion because of a gas leak!???????
perhaps it was written by an AI.
I could go on. and on and on, but why.
perhaps it was written by an AI.
I could go on. and on and on, but why.
May 30, 2024
Ah, GOOOD! A GOOD SciFi Drama! And, Mostly Set on Mars, to Boot! Hurray!
Well, OK, after gushing about how happy I was to read a good Space-related SciFi story, let me get into some of the nuts and bolts of the book.
First off, the premise of this Mission to Mars almost immediately takes on a sense of the unbelievable, when an abrupt shift of “Who is in command ?”takes place, at a very stupid point in the Mission Timeline. Personally, I can’t imagine this event taking place under ANY realistic circumstance, but ESPECIALLY NOT in the timing presented by The Author. But, “Oh, well!” — it’s his story, not mine — but I suspect other Readers will have problems with this type of attitude, too.
THEN, the new Commander is practically an idiot, at least with respect to knowing how to command and/or ensuring the safety of his crew. The Author truly makes him out to be selfish and narrow-focused, and frankly — I don’t see how such a person would be thrust into the Commander’s role; it makes no sense, and it’s primarily The Crew that will suffer.
At some point in the story, there’s a lost crew member, apparently stranded out in a Mars Dust Storm (which we all should know by now, would never be as horrible and threatening as depicted by many SciFi Writers). Still, after an effort to go out and find the crew member is aborted due to common sense (ie — the Rescuers might get lost) — WHY would they not simply tie a rope to the Mars Habitat, and to themselves, and therefore ensure each Rescuer could find their way back without the least little bit of effort? The fact that this isn’t even offered as an option, sounds like pretty poor thinking by The Author, and a weak link in the story.
I also find it interesting, that The Author BARELY remembers to give the Mars crew the superhuman strength they deserve while on Mars. That is, the crew has muscles and capabilities that are suited from growing up and living in a 1G environment on Earth — but, here they are on Mars — and they SHOULD be able to lift and move things — even themselves — much better than on Earth. But, no, except for one instance of being about to suddenly hop uphill better — The Author completely strips the crew from having any additional strength and/or of being able to perform better at a given physical task than on Earth. This makes no sense, including how they move about — they should have much more bounce in their steps on Mars, than on Earth!
The Author also digresses from familiarity the crew has with each other, to almost always referring to the original ‘chief’ as ‘Commander Holman’ — but most of the others are referenced almost exclusively by their first names. I’ve never been much of one to use titles to address another person, and I’ve no military background — but once Kate’s title and position on the crew was made clear in the book, The Author’s persistent use of ‘Commander Holman’ seems excessive for a group that mostly considers themselves close as a family.
Unfortunately, to This Reader’s surprise and dread — you’ll also soon discover that the writing of this ‘great’ SciFi novel in fact draws a mixture of plot lines from The Mummy Returns and King Tut’s Curse. Surely, The Author didn’t need to fail over to THAT, did he?
Last, but not least — HOW in the world (or out of this world?) did The Author think NASA managed to send a HUGE, ENTIRELY pre-confab housing development to Mars, ahead of the 1st astronauts to land there? Did it just land in a little cube, they added water and it sprouted?!? Oddly enough, The Author makes no attempt to have the existence of these living arrangements make any sense — they just are there, part of the unspoken plot that need never be explained.
The ‘bad guys’ in this book are a bit hollow, greedy and flat-out stupid; the ‘good guys’, of course, may be beaten down and decimated, but persevere from one chapter to the next. There are also a few liberties taken by The Author with spaceflight dynamics, Solar radiation, poisoning, deaths and other details — but, like I accepted at the beginning of this review — “Hey, it’s The Author’s Plot, not mine!”
Well, OK, after gushing about how happy I was to read a good Space-related SciFi story, let me get into some of the nuts and bolts of the book.
First off, the premise of this Mission to Mars almost immediately takes on a sense of the unbelievable, when an abrupt shift of “Who is in command ?”takes place, at a very stupid point in the Mission Timeline. Personally, I can’t imagine this event taking place under ANY realistic circumstance, but ESPECIALLY NOT in the timing presented by The Author. But, “Oh, well!” — it’s his story, not mine — but I suspect other Readers will have problems with this type of attitude, too.
THEN, the new Commander is practically an idiot, at least with respect to knowing how to command and/or ensuring the safety of his crew. The Author truly makes him out to be selfish and narrow-focused, and frankly — I don’t see how such a person would be thrust into the Commander’s role; it makes no sense, and it’s primarily The Crew that will suffer.
At some point in the story, there’s a lost crew member, apparently stranded out in a Mars Dust Storm (which we all should know by now, would never be as horrible and threatening as depicted by many SciFi Writers). Still, after an effort to go out and find the crew member is aborted due to common sense (ie — the Rescuers might get lost) — WHY would they not simply tie a rope to the Mars Habitat, and to themselves, and therefore ensure each Rescuer could find their way back without the least little bit of effort? The fact that this isn’t even offered as an option, sounds like pretty poor thinking by The Author, and a weak link in the story.
I also find it interesting, that The Author BARELY remembers to give the Mars crew the superhuman strength they deserve while on Mars. That is, the crew has muscles and capabilities that are suited from growing up and living in a 1G environment on Earth — but, here they are on Mars — and they SHOULD be able to lift and move things — even themselves — much better than on Earth. But, no, except for one instance of being about to suddenly hop uphill better — The Author completely strips the crew from having any additional strength and/or of being able to perform better at a given physical task than on Earth. This makes no sense, including how they move about — they should have much more bounce in their steps on Mars, than on Earth!
The Author also digresses from familiarity the crew has with each other, to almost always referring to the original ‘chief’ as ‘Commander Holman’ — but most of the others are referenced almost exclusively by their first names. I’ve never been much of one to use titles to address another person, and I’ve no military background — but once Kate’s title and position on the crew was made clear in the book, The Author’s persistent use of ‘Commander Holman’ seems excessive for a group that mostly considers themselves close as a family.
Unfortunately, to This Reader’s surprise and dread — you’ll also soon discover that the writing of this ‘great’ SciFi novel in fact draws a mixture of plot lines from The Mummy Returns and King Tut’s Curse. Surely, The Author didn’t need to fail over to THAT, did he?
Last, but not least — HOW in the world (or out of this world?) did The Author think NASA managed to send a HUGE, ENTIRELY pre-confab housing development to Mars, ahead of the 1st astronauts to land there? Did it just land in a little cube, they added water and it sprouted?!? Oddly enough, The Author makes no attempt to have the existence of these living arrangements make any sense — they just are there, part of the unspoken plot that need never be explained.
The ‘bad guys’ in this book are a bit hollow, greedy and flat-out stupid; the ‘good guys’, of course, may be beaten down and decimated, but persevere from one chapter to the next. There are also a few liberties taken by The Author with spaceflight dynamics, Solar radiation, poisoning, deaths and other details — but, like I accepted at the beginning of this review — “Hey, it’s The Author’s Plot, not mine!”
July 21, 2025
I have finished reading “Ares” by Jayson Adams.
This is a fictional Science Fiction story about the first manned mission to Mars under NASA called Ares. Upon arriving at the red planet the Mission Commander of Ares, Kate Holman, is unexpectedly relieved of command. What follows is a series of unexpected events.
The book wastes no time getting straight into the action. The politics between the different crew members is established pretty much immediately. Kate Holman is the hero with a dark past. Julian Grimes is an obvious jerk with an agenda. Professor Fisk is the nerdy civilian who is obsessed with conspiracy theories. Between that there are a few other interesting characters, but we are introduced to them largely through interactions with the main character.
Mars itself features surprisingly little in terms of a backdrop for the actual story. Although there are a few tense encounters outside including being hit by a dust storm. Much of the drama takes place in the astronaut’s habitation unit, in which for a time a bit of an Agatha Christie “whodunnit?” takes place, with the deaths piling up somewhat quicker.
Without giving too much away, the conspiracy amounts to the main baddies essentially being the US Space Force who basically use the Mars Mission as a part of a long term goal of self-enrichment.
The cast body count is almost Game of Thrones high in scale, but a bit more predictable than that series given the evident authors’ lack of investment in them, and the sheer speed at which they were got rid of.
There are bits of the book where the dark tone and the relentlessness of more emergencies and deaths rearing their heads, when I was left guessing about whether the author was going to take more risks with the old thriller formula. Unfortunately these bits were countered more than once by cookie cutter scenes, such as an all too Hollywood bad guy monologue detailing what their evil plan was. I get it insofar as the bad guy in question did this is because they were so sure of winning, but I admit to finding it a bit tiresome nonetheless. Surely trained killers would just…….you know……get on with it and kill?
The way the good guys worked out how to unravel the conspiracy was sufficiently nerdy for my tastes, suitably having a Science based Victory in a Sci Fi novel. Unfortunately, this was slightly tainted for me by an ending as conventionally cheesy as the end of the Independence Day film minus the overblown President’s speech.
I give this novel points for sheer entertainment and dispensing with overblown and unnecessary backdrops. The author trusts the reader to use their imaginations to fulfil certain bits of imagery. Less ideas are stolen off other Sci Fi projects than other books in it’s genre, so Kudos to that. I did wonder whether some of this novel’s limitations came from it leaning more towards conventional thriller territory and less towards Science Fiction. But to the credit of the author I found the novel had a real page turner quality and I genuinely wanted to see it through to see how it ended. While this is perhaps not among the best Sci Fi books I have read, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
This is a fictional Science Fiction story about the first manned mission to Mars under NASA called Ares. Upon arriving at the red planet the Mission Commander of Ares, Kate Holman, is unexpectedly relieved of command. What follows is a series of unexpected events.
The book wastes no time getting straight into the action. The politics between the different crew members is established pretty much immediately. Kate Holman is the hero with a dark past. Julian Grimes is an obvious jerk with an agenda. Professor Fisk is the nerdy civilian who is obsessed with conspiracy theories. Between that there are a few other interesting characters, but we are introduced to them largely through interactions with the main character.
Mars itself features surprisingly little in terms of a backdrop for the actual story. Although there are a few tense encounters outside including being hit by a dust storm. Much of the drama takes place in the astronaut’s habitation unit, in which for a time a bit of an Agatha Christie “whodunnit?” takes place, with the deaths piling up somewhat quicker.
Without giving too much away, the conspiracy amounts to the main baddies essentially being the US Space Force who basically use the Mars Mission as a part of a long term goal of self-enrichment.
The cast body count is almost Game of Thrones high in scale, but a bit more predictable than that series given the evident authors’ lack of investment in them, and the sheer speed at which they were got rid of.
There are bits of the book where the dark tone and the relentlessness of more emergencies and deaths rearing their heads, when I was left guessing about whether the author was going to take more risks with the old thriller formula. Unfortunately these bits were countered more than once by cookie cutter scenes, such as an all too Hollywood bad guy monologue detailing what their evil plan was. I get it insofar as the bad guy in question did this is because they were so sure of winning, but I admit to finding it a bit tiresome nonetheless. Surely trained killers would just…….you know……get on with it and kill?
The way the good guys worked out how to unravel the conspiracy was sufficiently nerdy for my tastes, suitably having a Science based Victory in a Sci Fi novel. Unfortunately, this was slightly tainted for me by an ending as conventionally cheesy as the end of the Independence Day film minus the overblown President’s speech.
I give this novel points for sheer entertainment and dispensing with overblown and unnecessary backdrops. The author trusts the reader to use their imaginations to fulfil certain bits of imagery. Less ideas are stolen off other Sci Fi projects than other books in it’s genre, so Kudos to that. I did wonder whether some of this novel’s limitations came from it leaning more towards conventional thriller territory and less towards Science Fiction. But to the credit of the author I found the novel had a real page turner quality and I genuinely wanted to see it through to see how it ended. While this is perhaps not among the best Sci Fi books I have read, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
August 29, 2024
I quite enjoyed this novel about an ill-fated mission to Mars, with its well-drawn characters, solid plot…and conspiracy theories! Ares is author Jayson Adams’ second novel. Commander Kate Holman is leading Earth’s first manned mission to Mars and all is going well. But in a hot second, she’s stripped of command and she and the crew are thrust into a situation that none of them could have prepared for. It’s mystery, subterfuge, betrayal and some fun Mars conspiracy theory, and it moves along at a good clip. I found myself wanting to return to the book to see what manner of disaster would befall the team next.
I particularly enjoyed Fisk, the mission’s interplanetary geologist. He’s a conspiracy theorist who lends a credulous note to the story. I learned that a geological formation called the Face of Mars is thought by some to be alien built. It's an example of pareidolia, “the tendency for perception to impose a meaningful interpretation on a nebulous stimulus…so that one detects an object, pattern, or meaning where there is none.” He’s a good contrast to Commander Kate who just wants everyone else to be sensible in an insensible situation.
Though Ares didn’t break new ground, it tells a fun story about a small group of astronauts who find themselves in dire straits really far from home, solidly written and plotted. And as a bonus it is indie published. Who knew I’d find contemplating Mars so interesting?
Thanks to the Canadian Bookclub Awards for a gifted digital copy.
I particularly enjoyed Fisk, the mission’s interplanetary geologist. He’s a conspiracy theorist who lends a credulous note to the story. I learned that a geological formation called the Face of Mars is thought by some to be alien built. It's an example of pareidolia, “the tendency for perception to impose a meaningful interpretation on a nebulous stimulus…so that one detects an object, pattern, or meaning where there is none.” He’s a good contrast to Commander Kate who just wants everyone else to be sensible in an insensible situation.
Though Ares didn’t break new ground, it tells a fun story about a small group of astronauts who find themselves in dire straits really far from home, solidly written and plotted. And as a bonus it is indie published. Who knew I’d find contemplating Mars so interesting?
Thanks to the Canadian Bookclub Awards for a gifted digital copy.
February 2, 2026
I would rate this 3.5. This was a nice space thriller that did not require discussion of special technology or physics concepts that were either too cerebral to understand or merely farfetched. Good guys, bad guys, greed, duplicity, and perseverance in the face of adversity were the themes. A crew sent to Mars finds out as they land that control of the initially scientific mission has been changed to military command and the purpose is classified. The military leader is a truly nasty man, and as soon as he assumes command, crew start dying. Kate Holman, the initial commander, has to find out what the real mission is and why it justifies killing the crew as well as get them back to Earth. The pace moves at a consistent pace, building to a peak moment of confrontation. The story is put together well and the writing is solid. The characters were a bit two dimensional at times, and the author, while populating the crew with women, gives them characteristics inconsistent with what I would expect from astronauts or scientists. Kate is constantly weepy about her children and obsesses about an accident she had some time back involving a landing on the moon that did not end well. She also is inexplicably forgiving of the military commander who puts everyone in jeopardy and actually enables him to do more damage. The one geologist on the crew is annoying as anything. The characters clearly had to act to move the plot on its intended course. Nonetheless, it was action-packed and entertaining.
December 15, 2023
I read this book in just a few days, finding it to be an amazing story that moved so fast, I just did not want to stop reading. It is a great tale with well-developed characters. There are moments of great tension and several fun and scary plot twists. Anyone who loves Sci-Fi space opera or a really good mystery story would enjoy this story. It is full of political corruption, starting at the top levels of two space agencies driven by greed. Nothing is certain in the plot and there are surprises on nearly every page.
The first mission to Mars is led by Commander Kate Holman, that is until she is unexpectedly relieved of command and replaced by the mission's security officer as ordered by a NASA deputy director. This happens almost as their vessel is descending for a landing on Mars. Kate learns that their mission has gone from one of exploration and discovery to one with a military objective.
Kate and most of her crew are a little perplexed by the security officer, who makes a trek to the "face on Mars" to retrieve something. What he finds could be anything, evidence of life, alien artifacts, or maybe a rare new element previously unknown. Kate can only speculate about what the officer has found.
Astronauts are killed and their habitat begins to experience malfunctions. One crew member says the mishaps result from a Martian curse that will continue to plague the mission until whatever the security officer has found is returned to its original resting place. Kate continues to seek more plausible explanations for the problems that keep cropping up.
When she finally learns the nature of what has been retrieved, she understands why some would kill to protect the secret. It is decided her, and what is left of her crew must return home to expose the corruption she has uncovered. Unfortunately, the odds are against her as she is forced to fight against some very powerful forces, determined to keep the secrets in the darkness.
Kate is a great, strong female character who has studied, worked, and sacrificed much to earn her position, commanding the first Martian mission only to have it ripped away from her. But she doesn't just step aside quietly and relinquish. She knows she is in the right and is determined to get her command back and lead a successful mission. This is very important to her.
She does have a few skeletons in her closet, and she has a hard time stopping the old bones from rattling. Much of what causes her pain is some misconceived ideas she has of an incident that occurred on previous mission.
Her determination and her ability to survive the obstacles in her path are all she has, and she takes full advantage of her resources to thwart the plans set against her.
The author has created a great character in Commander Kate Holman, and I would enjoy reading more about her exploits in future books.
My favorite plot point in Ares was how Commander Kate was able to find ways to deal with her problems so well. She had a lot stacked against her. She had personal problems, family problems, problems with the mission, problems with the crew, and, of course, there was the nearly insane way the antagonist just wouldn't give up. I couldn't imagine balancing everything she faced, but the author did a fine job getting his principal character through it all.
My takeaway from Ares is how it demonstrates perseverance can take one a long way to deal with seemingly impossible situations.
Ares is a great story. I was fascinated and entertained all the way through. The action is pretty well non-stop through the entire book and there are several twists and turns in the plot to hold the reader's attention. The science, for the most part, is plausible, and the spaceflight depicted is also to be admired. There is intrigue involving both space agencies that exist now. I recommend Ares for anyone who enjoys a good, fast-paced sci-fi tale.
The first mission to Mars is led by Commander Kate Holman, that is until she is unexpectedly relieved of command and replaced by the mission's security officer as ordered by a NASA deputy director. This happens almost as their vessel is descending for a landing on Mars. Kate learns that their mission has gone from one of exploration and discovery to one with a military objective.
Kate and most of her crew are a little perplexed by the security officer, who makes a trek to the "face on Mars" to retrieve something. What he finds could be anything, evidence of life, alien artifacts, or maybe a rare new element previously unknown. Kate can only speculate about what the officer has found.
Astronauts are killed and their habitat begins to experience malfunctions. One crew member says the mishaps result from a Martian curse that will continue to plague the mission until whatever the security officer has found is returned to its original resting place. Kate continues to seek more plausible explanations for the problems that keep cropping up.
When she finally learns the nature of what has been retrieved, she understands why some would kill to protect the secret. It is decided her, and what is left of her crew must return home to expose the corruption she has uncovered. Unfortunately, the odds are against her as she is forced to fight against some very powerful forces, determined to keep the secrets in the darkness.
Kate is a great, strong female character who has studied, worked, and sacrificed much to earn her position, commanding the first Martian mission only to have it ripped away from her. But she doesn't just step aside quietly and relinquish. She knows she is in the right and is determined to get her command back and lead a successful mission. This is very important to her.
She does have a few skeletons in her closet, and she has a hard time stopping the old bones from rattling. Much of what causes her pain is some misconceived ideas she has of an incident that occurred on previous mission.
Her determination and her ability to survive the obstacles in her path are all she has, and she takes full advantage of her resources to thwart the plans set against her.
The author has created a great character in Commander Kate Holman, and I would enjoy reading more about her exploits in future books.
My favorite plot point in Ares was how Commander Kate was able to find ways to deal with her problems so well. She had a lot stacked against her. She had personal problems, family problems, problems with the mission, problems with the crew, and, of course, there was the nearly insane way the antagonist just wouldn't give up. I couldn't imagine balancing everything she faced, but the author did a fine job getting his principal character through it all.
My takeaway from Ares is how it demonstrates perseverance can take one a long way to deal with seemingly impossible situations.
Ares is a great story. I was fascinated and entertained all the way through. The action is pretty well non-stop through the entire book and there are several twists and turns in the plot to hold the reader's attention. The science, for the most part, is plausible, and the spaceflight depicted is also to be admired. There is intrigue involving both space agencies that exist now. I recommend Ares for anyone who enjoys a good, fast-paced sci-fi tale.
October 31, 2024
When I learned that this story was about an ill-fated trip to Mars, I was sold.
This was sci-fi packed with drama and suspense.
There were so many nail biting scenes. The action was written really well.
This story mostly followed the commander Kate, who was surprised to find out as they approached Mars, that she would be relieved of her duties and Julian (our villain of the story) would take over as acting commander of a secret mission that none of the other astronauts on Mars were briefed on.
As the mysterious mission comes to light, weird and dangerous things start happening and our story really blasts off 🚀(pun intended 😉)
I enjoyed reading all about the space aspects of this book. The food, the storms, the oxygen or lack there of, and just the general science of it all. As well as the conspiracies and the good guy vs bad guy throughout. It was a fun read!
This was sci-fi packed with drama and suspense.
There were so many nail biting scenes. The action was written really well.
This story mostly followed the commander Kate, who was surprised to find out as they approached Mars, that she would be relieved of her duties and Julian (our villain of the story) would take over as acting commander of a secret mission that none of the other astronauts on Mars were briefed on.
As the mysterious mission comes to light, weird and dangerous things start happening and our story really blasts off 🚀(pun intended 😉)
I enjoyed reading all about the space aspects of this book. The food, the storms, the oxygen or lack there of, and just the general science of it all. As well as the conspiracies and the good guy vs bad guy throughout. It was a fun read!
March 30, 2026
Mars, mayhem and murder
This isn't the book I was expecting to read, not that that's a bad thing. What started out as a story of exploration and hope descended into the base instincts of man. Power, wealth, envy all on show as the crew of the Ares find out who, and what, their cremated really are and what drives them.
The story does jump about it little, and this does move the story along, but I would have liked more time spent on Mars and a little bit more from the ending to the book. It would have been interesting to see what happened to some more of the antagonists in the story rather than just effectively writing them out.
Still I gave the book 4 stars as it was an interesting read that kept me turning page after page.
This isn't the book I was expecting to read, not that that's a bad thing. What started out as a story of exploration and hope descended into the base instincts of man. Power, wealth, envy all on show as the crew of the Ares find out who, and what, their cremated really are and what drives them.
The story does jump about it little, and this does move the story along, but I would have liked more time spent on Mars and a little bit more from the ending to the book. It would have been interesting to see what happened to some more of the antagonists in the story rather than just effectively writing them out.
Still I gave the book 4 stars as it was an interesting read that kept me turning page after page.
January 24, 2026
Absolutely amazing! I loved it!
This is not my usual genre. I enjoy thrillers. I occasionally read a sci-fi. This actually popped up as an ad on my facebook feed. It seemed interesting so I grabbed it! I absolutely loved it!
Set in the near(ish) future, upon arrival of the first manned mission to Mars, the commander is relieved of command. The story follows mostly thru her POV. It is a mystery, thriller, adventure all rolled into one! How does a commander regain her mission, save her team, expose a conspiracy, and get back home to her children and family? Will she succeed? Will she survive? Read this book!
This is not my usual genre. I enjoy thrillers. I occasionally read a sci-fi. This actually popped up as an ad on my facebook feed. It seemed interesting so I grabbed it! I absolutely loved it!
Set in the near(ish) future, upon arrival of the first manned mission to Mars, the commander is relieved of command. The story follows mostly thru her POV. It is a mystery, thriller, adventure all rolled into one! How does a commander regain her mission, save her team, expose a conspiracy, and get back home to her children and family? Will she succeed? Will she survive? Read this book!
Read
December 19, 2025Ares is a fast paced, high tension science fiction thriller that pulls the reader straight into a vividly realized Mars mission.
What stands out is the realism the scientific detail and procedural authenticity make the danger feel immediate and personal, as if you’re inside the suit alongside the crew. The pacing is relentless, with escalating crises, political intrigue, and moral conflict that keep the pages turning right through the final act.
A strong recommendation for readers who enjoy hard science fiction paired with nonstop action and high stakes.
What stands out is the realism the scientific detail and procedural authenticity make the danger feel immediate and personal, as if you’re inside the suit alongside the crew. The pacing is relentless, with escalating crises, political intrigue, and moral conflict that keep the pages turning right through the final act.
A strong recommendation for readers who enjoy hard science fiction paired with nonstop action and high stakes.
June 19, 2026
This book is like a serious lesson. Don’t take any review on Facebook seriously. It took me a long time to finish this book because I kept putting it down. I kept doing other things like watching television and surfing the web
I kept waiting to find the other viewers. Interesting about this story. The science was bad. The premise just slightly interesting. Spy agencies colluding to take gold from Mars. Goldfinger the movie had a better premise than this book.
In short, I won’t read books by this author, unless there are better reviews by reliable sources.
I kept waiting to find the other viewers. Interesting about this story. The science was bad. The premise just slightly interesting. Spy agencies colluding to take gold from Mars. Goldfinger the movie had a better premise than this book.
In short, I won’t read books by this author, unless there are better reviews by reliable sources.
October 29, 2023
Unfortunately, this didn't click with me. It felt rushed, the characterisations felt markedly overblown, and many of the concepts and ideas didn't seem to click together as I would have expected.
Not sure if it's just Adams style of writing, perhaps I'll give his other novel a go. Little details like the misuse of t minus for times, the phrase vaginal cavity, the use of centigrade, and the pathos of the moon backstory all served to bother me more collectively than they should.
Not sure if it's just Adams style of writing, perhaps I'll give his other novel a go. Little details like the misuse of t minus for times, the phrase vaginal cavity, the use of centigrade, and the pathos of the moon backstory all served to bother me more collectively than they should.
January 6, 2024
Better than expected
Only the best books that appeal to me in all areas get five stars. This book captured my attention and roped me deep into the story. The story line is believable and fast paced. I cared about the characters and continually tried to second guess who would live and who would not make it home from Mars. Or from the moon. I recommend this book and will eagerly wait for another by this author.
Only the best books that appeal to me in all areas get five stars. This book captured my attention and roped me deep into the story. The story line is believable and fast paced. I cared about the characters and continually tried to second guess who would live and who would not make it home from Mars. Or from the moon. I recommend this book and will eagerly wait for another by this author.
October 18, 2024
This is the best science fiction story I have read since The Martian by Andy Weir. The story never runs out of gas. The science is good and the characters plausible. There are so many twists and turns that just when you think the story will end, it takes you down another rabbit hole. What a ride! Thoroughly enjoyed this read and will explore other titles by Jayson Adams. I hope he has written a lot of other books.
May 1, 2026
The cover blurb had me reminiscing about The Martian, so I gave this a shot. I have to admit, this story took me beyond what I was expecting, which was a pleasant surprise. However, there are times I felt the story needed some increased pacing. I highly recommend reading the afterword, which confirms this story is about much more than secret missions on Mars.
I'm looking forward to reading Infernum by this author, which I've heard good things about.
I'm looking forward to reading Infernum by this author, which I've heard good things about.
August 21, 2026
Overall this was a good story from start to finish. I was expecting more of it to take place on Mars, so I was a little surprised there was so much story in space and on the moon. But those parts were good too. Mars was my favorite part. The descriptions were very well written and easy to visualize. Also the dialogue was good. There were a lot of characters, some of them I got to know pretty well by the end. If you like space, give this a try.
August 21, 2024
Too many continuity and believability problems
From the standpoint of pacing, it was a page-turner.
Unfortunately, it suffered from continuity issues (in one case the protagonist left the bad guy in location, walked down the hall and found him in another place).
Also, the bad guy escaped too many times to be be believable.
From the standpoint of pacing, it was a page-turner.
Unfortunately, it suffered from continuity issues (in one case the protagonist left the bad guy in location, walked down the hall and found him in another place).
Also, the bad guy escaped too many times to be be believable.
February 6, 2025
Well I didn’t expect that in this book? I didn’t know what to expect but towards the middle I got a bit bored and saw a few reviews of the book that suggested I should abandon the book?
I didn’t and glad to say if you can just persist a little you will find there is a sensible end worth waiting for. Maybe a little rushed towards the end but I enjoyed it in the end
I didn’t and glad to say if you can just persist a little you will find there is a sensible end worth waiting for. Maybe a little rushed towards the end but I enjoyed it in the end
August 30, 2026
Maybe 3.5 stars. It's an action packed novel, full of plot twists throughout. Not great writing, or much for character development. Some fun takes on the near future: The Space Force turns out to be an evil organization, US Debt hits 86 trillion dollars, bases on the Moon make travel there mundane. Ultimately a forgettable story.
August 20, 2024
good combination of sci fi and mystery
I found this hard to put down and just when I thought I had it figured out a new ripple would add to the story and keep it going. I did enjoy the story and highly recommend it
I found this hard to put down and just when I thought I had it figured out a new ripple would add to the story and keep it going. I did enjoy the story and highly recommend it
February 9, 2025
Great story line
A trip to Mars murder, suspense, and a well earned conclusion.
I was hooked on this book from page one and recommend it to anyone who likes to wrap up a story in one book from time to time.
A trip to Mars murder, suspense, and a well earned conclusion.
I was hooked on this book from page one and recommend it to anyone who likes to wrap up a story in one book from time to time.
February 14, 2025
Ok read
Exciting, sometimes. But, not believable too many times. For being supposedly bright people, sometimes some of the characters couldn’t see the obvious, or do what was clearly a safer more intelligent thing to do.
Exciting, sometimes. But, not believable too many times. For being supposedly bright people, sometimes some of the characters couldn’t see the obvious, or do what was clearly a safer more intelligent thing to do.
May 4, 2025
this was a very pleasant surprise
Unique plot, fast moving, twists and turns all over, very little predictable. Great reading. Enjoy this book. This should be a movie, if the screenwriters do mess with it.
Unique plot, fast moving, twists and turns all over, very little predictable. Great reading. Enjoy this book. This should be a movie, if the screenwriters do mess with it.
June 18, 2025
A Fun and Fast Paced Sci-Fi Novel
Ares is a fun and fast paced sci-fi novel that at times read like a murder mystery. I enjoyed the novel especially when it moved from Mars to the Moon.
Ares is a fun and fast paced sci-fi novel that at times read like a murder mystery. I enjoyed the novel especially when it moved from Mars to the Moon.
July 21, 2025
Great story from a great author
Because the story kept providing plenty of background it was easy to put together. Mars stories have always been a favorite to me and this twist was definitely not disappointing!
Good book!
Because the story kept providing plenty of background it was easy to put together. Mars stories have always been a favorite to me and this twist was definitely not disappointing!
Good book!
September 29, 2025
Interesting but..
I liked the subject and the environment of the story. I worked several years with NASA people. None of them would have acted like the characters in this one however.
I liked the subject and the environment of the story. I worked several years with NASA people. None of them would have acted like the characters in this one however.
January 28, 2026
enjoyed
Some is a bit silly, but overall an enjoyable read. Some characters were so extreme in personality/behavior as to be annoying. Would never have been selected for a space crew.
Some is a bit silly, but overall an enjoyable read. Some characters were so extreme in personality/behavior as to be annoying. Would never have been selected for a space crew.
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