A Rebel’s History of Mars

The fates of two people, separated by space and time, collide when a crew of time-traveling historians travel to Mars to learn why their ancestors left for a distant galaxy. They find an aerialist in the Martian circus who triggered a chain of events when she was infected with an alien substance, one that could spell humanity’s end or salvation.

"A fascinating tale."

"A Rebel’s History of Mars is a fresh take on some old science fiction ideas."

Praise for Nadia Afifi''s previous book, The Sentient:

"Afifi’s staggering and un-put-downable debut offers a fresh and feminist-forward take on cloning [...] This riveting debut is a must-have for any sci-fi fan." — Publishers Weekly starred review

"Afifi’s first novel is a science fiction noir [...] The worldbuilding is a particular strength, as every locale feels well-realized and lived-in. This is an excellent book for fans of Mira Grant and Michael Crichton, or readers who love a thrilling narrative and welcome moral and philosophical questions in their science fiction." — Booklist

"Nadia Afifi is a brand-new voice, and one you should become familiar with [...] Exciting, mesmerizing, and full of cutting-edge science, ''The Sentient'' is an excellent beginning to what’s sure to be a successful career." — Analog SF

“Honestly, this book was big on character, big on plot, and a well written science fiction piece, all good things I love as a bookworm and a scientist!” — The Nerd Daily

"A piece of ethical excellency, a cry of freedom, and a thought-provoking debut is what Nadia Afifi has delivered for those who love to plunge into the gray morality of stories, as well as the riveting explorations of science fiction and the theory of the multiverse." — Bookwyrm''s Guide to the Galaxy

"Nadia Afifi triumphs as an interstellar ringmaster–juggling a captivating, breakneck adventure, tenacious characters, and terrifyingly cool worldbuilding with profound themes of corruptive power, oppressive class systems, environmental crises, and the undeniable gravity of understanding our darkest historical moments, so that we may never repeat them."

"This thrilling cosmic history will have readers racing to turn the pages."

"Combines the best qualities of suspenseful thriller, wide-ranging space opera and mystery quests [...] Afifi has written a wonderfully engaging and atmospheric work that both thrills and engages our sense of wonder at the possibilities of the future, something all too few contemporary SF authors address."

"A Rebel’s History of Mars by Nadia Afifi is an exciting sci-fi tale of revenge, colonization, and a future historian’s look into how badly humans screwed up when they conquered other planets."

"Sharp, vivid, and thoughtful, A Rebel’s History of Mars tells a story with a cosmic scope of the risks and joys of building community." "A Rebel’s History of Mars isn’t short on entertainment. Afifi finds space for moments of beauty (Kezza’s trapeze performances), dollops of tension (the taut climax), and, importantly, the possibility of hope – that truth might one day prevail. "

Kezza, an aerialist in the Martian circus, can never return to Earth – but she can assassinate the man she blames for her grim life on the red planet. Her murderous plans take an unexpected turn, however, when she uncovers a sinister secret. A thousand years into the future, Azad lives a safe but controlled life on the beautiful desert planet of Nabatea. His world is upended when he joins a crew of space-traveling historians seeking to learn the true reason that their ancestors left Mars. Separated by time and space, Kezza and Azad’s stories collide in the Martian desert.

• | Author: Nadia Afifi
• | Publisher: Flame Tree Publishing
• | Publication Date: Jul 15, 2025
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language:
• | Binding: Hardback
• | ISBN-13: 9781787589452
• | ISBN-10: 1787589455