The Mars House

About the book

Following an environmental disaster, January, formerly a prominent figure in the Royal Ballet in London, now finds himself as a refugee in Tharsis, the colony on Mars. Being an Earthstronger, January's life on Mars is heavily influenced by his inability to adapt to the lower gravity, making him a potential danger to the native Martians. His choices in job, housing, and transportation are all limited due to his second-class status. To make matters worse, a xenophobic politician named Aubrey Gale is campaigning for all Earthstrongers to undergo naturalization, a process that is often detrimental and sometimes fatal.

When Gale unexpectedly selects January for a press interview that goes awry, January's life is thrown into turmoil while Gale's political campaign suffers as well. In an effort to resolve their mutual issues, Gale proposes a five-year fake marriage for publicity that would protect January from naturalization and boost Gale's political career. However, as January agrees to the arrangement, he realizes that Gale is not as they seem in public - they are kind, caring, and harder to dislike than January anticipated. As their relationship deepens, the political climate worsens and January uncovers a sinister plot against Gale, putting Tharsis in jeopardy and leaving January as the only one who can stop it.

Natasha Pulley's latest novel is an engrossing tale about privilege, resilience, and social boundaries, offering a timely reflection on current societal issues. With a captivating narrative, "Velvet was the Night" is a must-read for fans of Sarah Gailey and Tamsyn Muir.